SPOTLIGHT (Colt Seavers) ✔︎

24 | Climax

The awkward silence was short-lived when a synchronous gasp sounded from all sides. My attention immediately darted towards the impossible jump, where Colt and Ryder were just about to take off.

"Oh, shit," Jody breathed out, immediately grabbing my arm again. I let her hold onto me, my gaze fixed on the airborne car, which seemed to be travelling at a snail's pace. "They're not going to make it..."

"Yes, they are," I replied in barely a whisper. They have to.

My eyes honed in on the vehicle. I had tunnel vision and all I could think as my heart jumped into my throat was how much I needed Colt to be okay. He had to be okay. The world felt like it was moving in slow motion, but I blinked and suddenly the car landed on the other side, with a sickening crunch.

***

"Colt!" I shouted, sprinting at full speed towards the crashed car. I held my jacket up to cover my mouth and nose for the disturbed dust, squinting my eyes. "Colt!"

I skidded to a stop, when I reached the car and lunged for the driver's side door. I yanked it open, my hands immediately reaching for Colt. He shot me a groggy smile, completely out of breath. I returned it, relieved. He reached up and removed his mouthguard. "Did that make up for the camera I broke?"

I just chuckled, leaning forward to wrap my arms around him. I buried my face into the crook of his neck, ignoring the dust and sweat on his skin; I was just so happy that he was okay. "Surely." I opened my eyes, glancing over at Ryder, who lay still. My eyes widened. "Is he...?"

I pulled away from Colt and he turned to Ryder with a groan, reaching up to feel his pulse. We waited for a few tense seconds, before he let out a sigh. "He'll live."

Colt took my hands and I stepped back, helping him out of the car. He was a little unsteady on his feet, but after a few seconds, he was fine. "So," I began, watching Colt crack his neck with a grunt. "We got the confession; you're no longer a fugitive... What are you gonna do now?"

"I don't know." Colt reached back into the car and grabbed the walkie talkie, before turning back to me. "Maybe take you out on a date?" I let out a chuckle, my cheeks heating up slightly. Colt just laughed at that. "If you want—"

"—Uh, I don't know," I began, unable to contain the involuntary smile; I was really no good at acting. That's why Colt was on screen, not me. "I'll have to think about it."

Colt pouted slightly. "Please...?"

I rolled my eyes at his childishness. He was such a dork. I opened my mouth to respond, when something caught my eye over Colt's shoulder. My eyes widened in surprise. Colt followed my eye line, his gaze landing on what I was seeing.

"Ryder!"

I took a deep breath, following Colt up the hill after a retreating Ryder. I still hadn't quite caught my breath from my previous dash, but adrenaline pumped through my veins, pushing me forward. I stumbled down the other side of the dune, my eyes landing on Jody. I screamed out to her and she glanced up, eyes widening at our approach. "Get the car!"

Jody nodded, immediately jumping into the driver's seat of the hummer with the mounted camera. She put the car in drive and I managed to jump into the backseat as it rolled downhill, scooting over for Colt to follow, but he didn't. Jody rolled down the passenger window and manically gestured for Colt to get in. "Come on, Colt!'

"Lower the arm." Colt was now jogging alongside the car. He pushed the open door shut and I slid towards the window, opening it. He shot me a smile as Jody lowered the camera arm. "I'm gonna jump."

I stared at him incredulously as he jumped up, gripping the crane arm with his hands. He swung from the crane, his feet barely touching the ground. "What the hell are you doing?"

"I have a plan," he shouted, inching closer to the car on the arm. "Get me to the helicopter." I turned to relay the information to Jody, but she was already swerving the car to the left, towards the escaping chopper. "I'm gonna jump onto the skids, and then I'm gonna beat the shit out of him."

"No!" I shouted, with a roll of my eyes."Just get the recording."

Colt just saluted me, with a mischievous grin on his face. Why don't I believe you? "If I make it back in one piece—" I glared at him for even talking the possibility of him not 'making it back in one piece' into the universe. He just chuckled. "—I think a date is the least you can do for me."

Jody let out a bark of a laugh from the driver's seat, wiggling her eyebrows at me in the rearview. I sighed, turning back to Colt, who was watching me expectantly. "We'll talk about it when you get back."

Colt nodded. We were almost at the helicopter and Colt began to swing back and forth on the crane, gaining momentum and height fast. "I'm holding you to that."

"I'm swinging you around now!" Jody shouted from the front seat as the car turned to give Colt a clear shot at the helicopter. I locked eyes with Colt as the force of the turn sent him flying forward like a slingshot. His hands left the crane and he began to careen towards the frantic chopper.

I held my breath as he hovered in mid air.

***

Two more chapters! I've already written them. I don't know if I'll post tomorrow and Wednesday. I get back from my trip Wednesday night, so I might post them Thursday and Friday. Sorry for the delay.