𝓜𝓮𝓽𝓪𝓷𝓸𝓲𝓪 - 𝕊𝕒𝕞 𝕒𝕟𝕕 ℂ𝕠𝕝𝕓𝕪

𝒮𝒽𝑒'𝓈 𝒶𝓁𝓌𝒶𝓎𝓈 𝒻𝓊𝓃 𝒶𝓉 𝓅𝒶𝓇𝓉𝒾𝑒𝓈

"What do you mean, let him go? We can't just send him to his death!" Corey says emphatically, glaring at me, camera shaking in his hands.

"We won't be sending him to his death, dumbass," I say, rolling my eyes at his dramatic attitude.

"Oh really, because Colby's phobia was claustrophobia and his room tried to KILL US. Jake's is heights, how would we not be sending him to his death?" He exclaims and I sigh. 

"Corey, do me a favour and look to the end of the roof," I say as Corey comes up beside me, peering off into the distance, where he can see the "balcony" at the end, with old hospital mattresses stacked up. "If I let go, he'll slide directly down and land on the mattresses. He'll be fine." I readjust my grip on Jake's arm, his cast making it awkward. Corey just gives me a sceptical look.

"He managed to overshoot the vent. Are we sure he'll slide directly?" He asks, and I have to admit, he makes a good point.

"Hey, Jakey? If I let you go can you do your best to fall in a straight line please?" I ask him and he nods. "Okay, sit up straight and keep your arms in a T position while sliding. That should be the best way to slow your momentum. On three, I'm going to let go, okay?" I tell him as he nods and attempts to shift into position. "Okay... 1," I say, and he pulls himself into a sitting position. "2." I continue, and he takes a deep breath. "3!" I say, letting go as he immediately sticks his arm out in the position I told him to. The sudden weight shift of letting him go sends me flying backwards, where I collide with Colby before hitting the floor. 

"Fuck me, that hurt." Colby groans and I mumble my agreement, clambering to my feet and helping him up quickly, before moving to the edge to watch the rest of Jake's descent. I get there just as he slides off the edge of the roof and onto the mattresses. After a few tense seconds where we can't see him, a hand sticks out above the roof's edge, giving us a thumbs-up signal. We all breathe out a collective sigh of relief, and Jake's head pops up suddenly.

"Um, guys, are you gonna do the same thing? Cause how do you expect to meet up with me if you're on the roof and I'm on a precarious balcony?" He asks.

"That's... a very good point. Ivy?" Corey questions, swivelling his body around to face me.

"Well I figured we could just walk across that flat bit of roof over there, and that leads to where Jake is," I say, shrugging my shoulders and pointing to where I suggested we walk. The guys all turn to look at it, apparently not having noticed it beforehand. Slowly, they turn back to me, nodding dubiously.

"Yeah, that could work, except it's pretty far away. Sam and I will go first, and then Corey can help you across," Colby says gesturing to me. "It's not really up for debate, Ives. You're pretty necessary to keep us, you know, alive, so we can't afford to have you slide off the roof." He continues when I go to argue. I sigh in resignation, nodding my head in acceptance. Corey hands the camera over to Sam, who makes his way over to the beam.

"WHAT'S HAPPENING?" Jake yells, missing everything from his current position.

"WE'RE COMING BROTHER," Corey screams back, causing me to wince.

"AND WE AREN'T THAT FAR AWAY FROM EACH OTHER SO STOP FUCKING SCREAMING!" I shout as Corey covers his ears with his hands. "See, now you know how I feel." By the time this exchange is over, Sam has already made his way across to the flat, albeit thin, stretch of roofing, and Colby is following closely behind. He makes it across safely and turns back, finding a strong purchase with his feet before beckoning for me to come across. I slowly move, inching my way across the slanted roof, Corey's hand on the small of my back to help if I fall. Once I get close enough and Corey's retreated, I reach my hand out to Colby's outstretched one and just manage to grasp it before the floor falls out from under me.

Thanks for reading!

Love you lots,

Nikki <3

731 words