In My True Element

Chapter 20

"Ok, that's it, that's it, just grab that rock."

"Shut it."

Not that Ilana's usual cheerful answer is unexpected, but still I can't say that it is particularly pleasant. All I want is to be supportive; doesn't this woman get it?

Looking down at her, I remember that just yesterday I was standing in almost the same spot watching her fall. Now she's trying to make it up the rock face with a horrible headache and a bad leg. This ascent is proving to be difficult. She's been down there for ten minutes now without much luck while all my sound and at times brilliant suggestions have been tastelessly ignored.

Fed up with waiting, I throw one end of my rope down.

"Okay, that's it. Both of us know you won't be able to get up here on your own. Tie this rope around your waist and I'll pull you up."

"Oh you'd love that, wouldn't you?" She turns her face the other way, refusing to even look at the rope.

"Ilana, you don't always have to do everything yourself. It's okay to sometimes accept help."

Especially when it's obvious that you can't do it on your own, I add in my head.

With an exaggerated sigh she grabs the rope and jerks it to make sure there is enough length to wrap it around her waist. When she does this, I almost lose my end. This woman is positively exasperating.

With my help she gets to the top in record time. Yet instead of thanking me she only throws one of her well-rehearsed angry looks my way and limps back to where we came from not that long ago.

All too soon we get to the place I feared and didn't want to think about, the negative energy field. Will it have the same effect on me on the way back?

I look at her serious face; she must be thinking the same thing.

"Brainstorming time?" I suggest, throwing my backpack on the ground.

"I don't think I can cross it without you. So we'll have to do it together." I nod. "You can take all our bags to the other end; that way nothing will be holding us back." Okay, this isn't a bad idea. Plus, this time we know how long it is, so we have some advantage.

"Done." I take all the bags and start walking when Ilana stops me.

"Wait, can you leave the rope behind?"

"What do you need it for?" I ask her, my head full of dubious thoughts. "You aren't going to tie me up."

"I am. Head to toe. And you'll just have to hop there." Ilana is absolutely serious. She actually thinks that this is a good idea. I have to control myself to keep from laughing in her face.

"Fat chance," I mutter as I walk into the field.

When I come back, I see Ilana fidgeting. She's really nervous.

"Don't worry, I won't hurt you."

"Should I take your word for it?" I hate her sarcastic tone. But the sight of her biting her bottom lip makes me forget about the anger.

I stop in front of her and wait until she looks me in the eyes.

"I promise you, I'll control it this time. No matter how hard it might be." Her lip biting hasn't stopped. She clenches her fingers together, looking at me rather than at the field. "I promise."

I can see the abrupt changes in her face; at first she wants to say something mean but then thinks better of it, and her features soften.

"This time to protect myself I might actually have to use the knife. But as surprising as it is, I don't really want to kill you."