SOUL DORM

36

I'm so hurt...

***

CHAPTER 36:

FREE FALL

Step, plant your foot firmly, lift your arm, hold tight, and when you're sure, step again. Repeat, repeat, repeat...

This is what I had been doing for minutes. I was following Mars' footsteps like I was following a trail of breadcrumbs. I must have only climbed a couple of meters, and my arms were already aching. Even though I noticed the gap between Mars and me widening, my body could only do so much.

Step, plant your foot firmly, lift your arm...

Come on, Olive! I encouraged myself. There was no getting off this course without reaching the top. Fueled by my self-motivation, I climbed a bit further. But eventually, my arms gave out, forcing me to stop. I glanced up, and any remaining energy drained from my muscles. The ground was terrifyingly far below, and the summit felt even further away. I wasn't going to make it. Not even a few more meters. I was completely spent. I pressed my forehead against the wall and groaned.

"Come on, Oliver," Mars called down from above. "The goal is to climb up, not to stop and wait."

I was about to shout a curse at him, but then I remembered his help so far and settled for cursing him inwardly instead. I forced myself to take another step. My hand reached for the nearest hold I could see. By the time I realized my mistake, it was too late. My foot slipped, and I was left dangling in the air. My stomach lurched. I was sliding down uncontrollably with the harness keeping me suspended. I closed my eyes and braced for impact. But the expected pain never came.

"Open your eyes, Oliver, I can't hold you forever."

Mars's voice came from impossibly close. My eyes snapped open. He was indeed right beside me. He must have let himself slide down to my level. One hand gripped a hold, the other held the harness at my waist. He was the reason I hadn't fallen.

"Grab onto something, come on," he said.

Despite my shock, I managed to plant my foot on one of the holds. Then my arms reached for different grips. A moment later, I was hanging on the wall by myself again.

"Th-thank you," I stammered.

"We're a team, right?" he said with a wink. Before I could process his words, he was climbing again.

I took a deep breath and resumed my climb, cursing my fate. Now, my steps were much more cautious. I triple-checked each hold before gripping it. Despite the instructor's - I mean, the commander's - shouts of commands and threats from below, I neither sped up nor attempted the harder routes. For the first time in my life, I didn't care about coming in first place.

My strategy seemed to be working. At least, I managed to climb the next few meters without falling. But as the height increased, the world started spinning faster around me. I made an extraordinary effort not to look down. I was secured by ropes to the ceiling. Even if I fell, nothing would happen. I was safe. But... But... But... God, I hated heights.

I looked up at the ceiling in hope. I hadn't reached the summit, but I had caught up to Mars. He must have been staying in the same place for a while, or I wouldn't have been able to catch up. It didn't take long to understand the strange expression on his face. Pam... She was a few meters above, staring directly at me. Like a wolf waiting for Little Red Riding Hood to arrive...

They say people can sense impending disaster moments before it happens. I guess it's true. I felt the approaching doom, but there was nothing I could do to prevent it. Before Pam's menacing smile completely took over her face, a single word slipped from her lips.