“I hear you, sweetheart.” His voice is a terrifying whisper that feels like it’s drifting away.
“I thought his name was Derek,” Bella says.
“Hold on.” Tears clog my throat as I plead with him to stay. “Do not leave me again.”
“I… won’t…”
Wind whips my face, trying to steal the tears from my cheeks. I reach out to him as if I can stretch that far.
I never should have given the Giant the painting. Or maybe I should have given it to him sooner, when he first captured me. Whatever decision that would have kept Soren from this fate is what I should have done.
Soren swings back and fort—
Wait.
The swing.
I rush inside, tripping over the threshold, and again on the stairs as I race up the length of them. My fingers tremble as I work the carabiner off the rope and around the pole, but I finally get it untangled. I follow the swing down, running with it as fast as I can, not caring if I smash expensive things on my way out.
“Hurry!” Bella yells, and I pick up speed, careful not to slip on the slick surface.
“I got it,” I yell as I reach the balcony. I loop the rope around the pole, securing it with the carabiner, and drop the swing down.
“Ouch.”
Oh no. “Soren!” I yell, looking over the edge.
“I’m good,” he wheezes, but he’s now holding his head. He lets go to grab the disk, pulling his upper body onto it as much as he can. But that’s as far as he makes it.
My legs shake as I watch him struggle, unable to help him. “You have to climb.” My voice cracks. “I can’t pull you.”
“I will,” he says, “in a sec… just… lightheaded.” I watch in agony as he dangles precariously. His knuckles are white as he holds on for dear life. His eyes are closed, and his face is oddly relaxed. He looks like he’s going to pass out.
“Come on, Soren!” My voice seems to snap him awake, and he reaches one hand higher. He presses his feet against the building, using the angle to get himself high enough to plant his feet on the disk.
“I’m okay,” he says. “Just… need to rest… My arm hurts.”
The wind picks up, and I worry that one big gust may whip Soren away from the building. From me.
“Look!” Bella yells, trying to drag my attention away from Soren.
But I can’t. I can’t watch the love of my life fall to his death. He’s still too far down. I can’t grab him; I can’t help him. I can only watch and pray that each movement brings him closer to me.
“You can do this.” But my words are sucked out by the wind that’s grown increasingly stronger. My body feels like it’s on the verge of shutting down, unable to restart until he’s safe.
He reaches up again and seems to get a burst of energy because he doesn’t stop this time. He climbs higher and higher. The entire penthouse buzzes to life as I watch him climb higher. The buzzing grows louder and louder…
“He’s going to make it,” I whisper.
“Need a hand?” A very loud British voice pierces through the swirling night air.
I jump away from the railing, the gusts of wind nearly knocking me over. A helicopter? This close to the building? Is the man insane?
This must be Liam.
“Now he comes.” Soren lets out a chuckle as he nears the bottom of the balcony. He won’t be able to get over the high railing easily, but just as I think that, Soren uses the two inches of balcony outside the glass rail to jump, grab the top of the rail and pull himself up and over.
“What a showoff.” The man in the helicoptercackles.
