Wolf's Moon --- ONC 2022 (LONGLIST)

Chapter 8

Falling was an odd feeling, the sensation of weightlessness despite gravity failing you and sending you crashing straight to the ground. The way it made your stomach clench and knot in the most uncomfortable of ways, it made one feel as if they would lose everything they had recently ate. Thoughts were both racing and elusive, not one single thought sticking too long while others stayed to haunt you with your past. There was no time to think about life and death, only about those you were leaving behind and if you would be remembered by them. It was an odd final thought, but it was what had raced through her mind in that exact moment. 

Would they cry for you? 

Would they miss you?

Would anyone even care?

Callista was quickly pulled from what she thought would be her final thoughts as a part of the living world. Her wrist had been grasped firmly within a strong hand, her falling body coming to a painful jerking halt. A shocked gasp mingled with a terrified scream escaped from her as her shoulder popped unnaturally as her body dangled high above the ground below. Despite the unbearable heat that covered the forest, Callista's body drained of all heat and felt suddenly ice cold as if death was hovering right over her shoulder while she dangled between life and the afterworld. Realization of how close to death she had come rushed at her like a racing car, hitting her rather hard and knocking her into the present. 

"Pull me up. . ." 

She started, her voice soft and breathless. The quivering that mingled with her soft whimpers could barely be heard as tears began to quickly form within Callista's eyes. Terror rested within her silver gaze as she began to try and gain some foot hold on the rock wall in front of her. 

"P-pull me up. Pull me up now!" 

Kicking her feet in sheer panic, Callista reached up and grabbed hold of the wrist attached to the hand holding her. She was now fighting gravity and attempting to get up to solid ground where the certainty of life would be awaiting her. The panic was only rising within her the longer she dangled off the ledge. Her tears broke free as her struggle for safety became more adamant and the peril her life was in became far more real than the thoughts that were rushing through her brain. 

"Please, I don't want to die. Pull me up!" 

"Hey, hey, calm down. I got you, but you need to stop struggling if I'm going to pull you up." 

Callista continued to struggle, her heightened adrenaline levels and drive to survive had blanked her mind into a state of pure survival. She wasn't hearing anything the green eyed man was saying to her, instead, she was more focused on not being dropped and becoming a squished bug on the ground. She preferred to stay in one piece. 

Frustrated when ignored along with his grip slipping, a low growl rumbled from deep within the man's chest. However, it seemed to vibrate right through Callista's fingers and through her body. 

"Will you calm down for one moment!? You aren't going to fall, you're still clipped into the harness. If you stop struggling I can pull you up quickly." 

The moment she was snapped at her brain seemed to snapped back as well. It was as if she was just hearing the man's instructions for the first time since losing her grip on the ledge. It was like she was seeing the man for the first time and oddly, he felt rather familiar to her like she had seen him somewhere before. 

"Good, now do as I say and you'll be just fine." 

Nodding her head at the man's once more gentle tone, Callista stared up at him awaiting instructions. With him being the only thing between life and death for her, she was putting all trust within this stranger to get her up onto solid ground.