My Father's House

Chapter 40

Kael was suddenly in front of me, his face inches from mine. His voice cut through my fog, "Harper, stay with me."

Finding something to pick the locks on my cuffs from Madeline's selection of tools, his hands fumbled to release me. Even when the bonds slid from their place on my arm, I could feel their pressure on me. I knew they were truly still there.

I had to tell him. It wasn't fair to have him rush to help me if he wasn't changing my outcome in reality. I questioned the clarity of my thoughts, but still felt obligated to expose my true situation. I didn't move when my bonds slid off. "Kael," I whispered. He looked up at me with concern, but I shook my head. I could scarcely feel my dry lips as they moved.

"It doesn't matter. This isn't real. It's just me and Madeline." I gave a weak smile, hoping not to hurt his feelings after all he'd done. "Thank you, but it doesn't matter now. It's too late. It's just me and Madeline."

I no longer could hold up my head and let it fall. I had never felt so weak.

"Harper, it is me," he said fiercely. He knelt down and lifted my face until it was parallel with his.

"Me and Madeline," I whispered, staring forward through glazed eyes, "that's all. This isn't real. I'm so sorry." I choked on a sob that wasn't coming. There were no tears to shed.

He pulled me toward him, wrapping my good arm around his neck as he secured an arm around my waist. His hold felt so safe and strong. Letting my subconscious win, I offered no further protest. I was surprised to see the wretched chair recede further and further from us. As we walked to the rope it swayed slightly, in and out of the light.

I tightened my hold on his neck. Slowly, methodically, Kael twisted the rope into secure knots around his waist and mine. He gave two short jerks on the rope and somehow we began our ascent. Once off the ground, I felt my weight tug on his neck and tried to grasp tighter but it was no use. I had no strength beyond a loose hold. My torso began to fall backward. His face contorted into a grimace as he pulled me back toward him. My body was pressed tightly to his side. I wasn't going to fall.

We were six feet off the ground when I felt a hand grasp my leg. I tried to call out, a feeble attempt that was hardly audible. The effort required every ounce of energy I had left. At last, I was being pulled back to reality, when only seconds ago I had nearly escaped. I looked down, into Madeline's garish face. Her gun was pointed up at us. Her hand clenched my foot. In her rage, the gun shook as she spoke.

"Enough," she breathed through clenched teeth. Black hair was matted in fresh blood at the side of her face. "Drop her now, Kael," she commanded.

Our assent slowed with the added weight. Perspiration from Kael's temple fell to the crown of my head. Holding me alone had been torturous. With Madeline, I knew it would be seconds until I fell back to the reality below.

"Let go, Madeline," Kael gasped, his tight hold on me unwavering. He reached under his shirt and removed the diamond he'd hidden in Agatha's shed. Even in the darkness it sparkled, reflecting off the faint moonlight in the dimness of the tower.

"You have it!" She exclaimed, reaching for it, faltering in her grip.

Kael glanced at his watch, hesitating. Madeline's eyes locked onto her prize. I felt the arm around me tighten, crushing me against him. The next second an explosion tore through the tower, starting at the base and sending a cloud of smoke billowing up toward us. Madeline ducked her head, trying not to breathe in the fumes. Another explosion sounded. Our rope swayed as a draft gusted upward, and the fumes began to burn our lungs and eyes. I could see flames building below us. The stone walls succumbed to the explosion as large pieces of the infrastructure began to crumble into the abyss below us.