The Sun Will Rise (Moonlight 1)

Chapter 22-Tempting Fate

I was in a moment of complete panic, I felt the air leave my lungs for a moment as I tried to work out what had just happened. Rough itchy material dug into my skin as I struggled to support myself. All I could see was grass miles below and the shadowy crisscrossed lines blocking it. I sat up as I focused my vision realising that Michael and I were no longer on the ground, but had been caught in a net. I couldn't help but think of how ironic this all was, Michael and I had been the ones that had escaped last time. Yet here we were.

I knew straight away that we had to get out of here. My eyes searched above us for some extra section of rope or pulley that I could reach to bring the whole thing crashing down, but I couldn't see any.

"Damn." I heard a voice mutter, I knew from the tone that it had been Michael.

"Guys are you alright?" Ashton calls from the ground, I can faintly see him through the gaps in the rope. He looks petrified and is slightly shaking in shock, "Let me see if I can find the end of the rope to get you both back down."

The net swung slightly as I felt Michael move around behind me. I could see him trying to look past me to where Ashton was below. He frowned.

"No. Ashton, go. I bet its triggered an alarm, it would be worse if they catch you trying to get us out. Your better to be as far away from here as possible. Find Calum and tell him what's happened." Michael called to him in an urgent tone.

I raised my eyebrow, why couldn't we just communicate with Calum mentally? I tried for a moment to sense him, but came up with an almost blank. That's right, he'd been blocking the three of us out all day. Bad timing on his part, we needed his help.

Ashton hesitated for a moment, before he nodded. "Look after yourselves alright?"

"Don't we always?" Michael spoke back. "We'll be fine here for now."

"Yeah, I guess so." Ashton replies, not looking convinced.

Ashton gave us one last glance before he shifted into a wolf and raced away from us. I felt more nervous now that it was just the two of us. It was eerily silent, as we shifted into a comfortable position within the net. I could see Michael's face once we did so, as we'd managed to sit so we were facing each other.

"We can find a way out of here before they come, can't we?" I ask, looking at him hopefully.

"Maybe." Michael says as he examines the net. He tugs at it but ends up frowning. Not a good sign.

"Do we shift?" I ask with a nervous tone. The one word answer hadn't been promising.

"No. Too dangerous. If this is a trap meant for wolves. We've got more chance of getting out of here like this." Michael explained, "But perhaps we can use the weight to pull ourselves down. It looks like it's only been designed for one person-or wolf."

It was cramped in here, I think Michael was onto something. I thought about what happened if you overloaded something. It broke. Perhaps, if we could put enough pressure on the net, we could break it enough for the two of us to escape.

I nod, "You push one side of the net, I'll go the other."

"Okay." Michael nods. He suddenly looks more determined as he grabs the sides of the nets and pushes down with his feet.

I do the same, I half-stand up within then net and I push down with all my strength. The net wobbles a little and I can feel myself slipping. The ropes are thick, strong and clearly not designed to be broken. We'll be here for hours at this rate. Sure, we were strong but I don't think it was enough to break the ropes free. All we were achieving was making the net swing from side to side.