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Doing as he asked, I opened my eyes to see a very pale Frank. Looking him over, I gasped. “Oh, my God. Is that a branch in your side?”
“Yeah. Hence the situation.”
Looking around, I couldn’t believe what I was seeing.
My jeep hung precariously between the side of the mountain and a tree, dangling dangerously several hundred feet off the ground.
A snapping branch caused me to stiffen.
“Uh Frank...”
“I know. I managed to get a call out before the jeep slid down a few more feet. Help is on the way, but this tree isn’t going to hold us for much longer. We need to get out of here.”
“Are you kidding me!”
“It’s either that or we roll down the mountain like the other car did.”
“Oh God,” I gasped. “Did the driver make it out?”
“Don’t think so,” Frank grimaced before saying. “Have you ever done any rock climbing, Skylar?”
I nodded. “Yeah. Dad and I loved the outdoors. We did all kinds of stuff together, but never without a tether. Frank, I’m not sure I can do this.”
“Yes, you can, sweetheart, because you are one of the strongest women I know. Now, I need you to unbuckle your seatbelt and climb over me. I’m near the rock face. The door is already gone, so it should be easy for you to climb out.”
Carefully doing as he said, I unbuckled my seatbelt. Moving carefully, I shifted towards Frank, climbing over him. Mindful of the branch in his side, he said nothing as I reached out towards the rock face of the mountain.
The second my hand grabbed a crevice in the rock face, the jeep shifted.
As if in slow motion, I turned to see Frank smiling sweetly at me, telling me to go. Holding on for dear life, I reached with my other hand, grabbing Frank’s wrist, just as the jeep fell away, tumbling down the side of the mountain like a matchbox car.
Screaming out as pain shot up my arm, I held on for dear life as Frank’s dead weight pulled heavily on me. Refusing to let go, I dared not move when I heard someone yelling from above.
“SKYLAR!”
Blinking through the pain, I shouted back. “Down here!”
“Hang on, sweetheart. We’re coming!”
I didn’t know how long I stood there, clinging to the rock face with one hand, while holding Frank with my other. The burn in my shoulder was breathtaking as I tried not to move. My only concern was holding onto Frank. The second the jeep gave way Frank closed his eyes and hadn’t opened them up since. I could see blood dripping from his boots. Hurt badly, I knew the longer we hung there, the worse off he would be, but I refused to give up.
Dust and pebbles fell from up above.
Looking up, I saw Scribe and Gunner repelling down the rock face. Scribe had a basket with him as he moved quickly.
“Please hurry!”
“Almost there, darlin’. Don’t you let go of him, Skylar!” Scribe yelled frantically, repelling faster down the side of the mountain.
“Scribe, get Frank. I’ve got Skylar. Let me know when he’s secured,” Gunner ordered, stopping next to me, securing his line before smiling. “Fancy meeting you here, sweetheart.”
“My arm hurts,Gunner.”
“I know, baby. Scribe is doing his thing as fast as he can,” he said, tying lines around me, securing me to him.
“SECURED!” Scribe yelled moments later. “PULL HIM UP!”
“You can let go now, baby,” Gunner whispered, wrapping his arm around me. Doing as he said, I released Frank’s wrist and collapsed against Gunner.
