Fourth Wing: The Beginning

•°•▪︎|CHAPTER 3|▪︎•°•

I think that my mantra will be the same as my sisters: I will not die today. Dylan just died, and I will not be following his example. I see Rhiannon gripping both sides of the opening in the turret, then she looks over her shoulder to us. "I'll wait for you both on the other side" she shouts over the storm. And I can clearly see the fear in her eyes that mirrors my own. I smile as a reply, Vi decides to answer verbally. "I'll see you on the other side"

She steps out onto the parapet and begins walking, as soon as she takes her hands out for balance, I look away not able to watch further. "Name?" the rider from before ask Violet, as his partner tries and fails miserably at trying to keep the paper dry. "Violet Sorrengail" she answers, and thunder cracks above her. Before he could ask the usual 'The Sorrengail' question I also state my name. "Ophelia Everhart" and if the rider's eyes were wide before, now they were almost falling out of their sockets. "And yes, as in The Sorrengail and The Everhart" said Violet not bearing him a second glance.

Violet places her hands on either side of the turret, but before she could step on the actual parapet, I firmly grab her shoulder. "Remember hands out for balance, never look down, and if you get nervous, just babble about something historically. You've read about our history." I spoke. She gave me a tight-lipped smile and a nod of her head. She then proceeds to step out and starting to walk on the parapet.

I give her time until she's maybe a fourth of the way, then look one last time in Xaden's direction. He only gave me a firm nod, but I knew what he was trying to tell me, 'be careful, and don't die'. I take a lone step up onto the parapet and grip the stone wall as another gust hits, but I keep my balance.

Come on Ophelia, you can do this. You've trained your whole life for this. I will not die today.

The asshole from behind me decided to speak up again. "And you and that Sorrengail girl think you'll be able to ride?" he mocked. "I pity whatever wing you end up in, especially Sorrengail" I had to muster up all my patience not to turn around and kick that bastard in his precious little jewels. I take the first step onto the parapet and brace myself for what's about to come. Whatever happens I will not die today. I faintly hear the name of the bastard that had the courage to insult me and my sister. "Jack Barlow," he says, "remember that name. I'm going to be a wingleader one day" I mean even his voice reeks of arrogance. I scoff under my breath, that asshole.

The next few steps are a bit shaky but the further I walk and the more steps I make, the firmer my feet become. For the whole time I can feel Xaden's burning gaze on the back of my head, daring me to fall down, so that he can resurrect me only to kill me himself again. A bit of fear remains in my veins, but I push it down, leaving space for the adrenaline instead.

I dare to glance behind me, but I only see Jack smirking menacingly at me, so I quickly turn back around and focus. Keep your eyes on the stones ahead of you and don't look down. Mira's advice repeats itself inside my head continuously. But it's hard not to look down. And it gets harder the longer you stay on this fucking parapet. My hands are already out for balance, but I wish there was some sort of rope to held on to.

When I take my eyes off of the stones ahead, and look at Violet, I see that Rhiannon already made it across, and that my sister is already over the half-line. Proudness swells in my chest when I faintly hear Violet recite on of the book that dad would always read to us. But I block her out because as much as it helps her to keep calm, it doesn't the same to me. I take very deep breaths instead. In, hold for five, let out for ten. Repeat. In, hold for five, let out for ten. Repeat.

That was my coping mechanism. Each breath calms my growing anxiety, and my adrenaline takes over, covering the fear up completely. I was thankful for that. Thunder cracks again above me, but I don't pay attention to it, instead I check where Violet is. She almost reached the three-quarters line. Meanwhile I almost reached the middle-line. I can very faintly see the outlines of the rider's quadrant. And a little bit of hope makes its space inside my chest.