The Taking

Chapter 11

"I can't breathe."

"Just relax. Look at me."

"No!" I shake my head feverishly.

Quivering, I suck in a breath and squeeze my eyes as oxygen leaves my tightened limbs. I'm completely numb. That's what happens when you're holding on fiercely and your heart's pumping like it's on steroids.

"This wouldn't have happened if you had not disobeyed me."

Oh, I know... But you don't have to tell me Mr. Obvious!

"Shut up." If I could, I would love to kick him where the sun didn't shine. But if I did that, I don't think either of us will be able see the sun shine again, like, ever. Never mind the awkwardness it felt to have our chests pressed against each other. I tried my hardest not to move so that we wouldn't rub on each other. Second worst day of my life! Yesterday was my first.

It wouldn't take a genius to know how cross he was with me. "What in your right mind told you that you could survive a three story fall?" He all but yelled and my response was to hold on to his neck tighter.

Above us people frantically searched for rope, or trampoline. I hope they decide with the former, because I hate heights and I fear the feeling of falling. I'm an idiot and I'm going to most likely die an idiot. Why did I jump out?

My legs latch around his waist, arms nearly decapitating his head. "Can you please stop talking and get us back on solid ground safely?"

"What the hell do you think I'm doing...playing Tarzan? I'm a wolf, not a monkey!"

Rewind five minutes ago...

Greyson finished touring me around the house. While his attention focused on a row of classic texts he was keenly insistent I read (which I don't intend on doing so), my eyes darted to an open window three meters from where I stood. Angelina Jolie immediately popped into my head and I imagined her character from Tomb Raider making a grand escape. It played out perfectly in my head, but when I actually tried it, I failed miserably.

Now dangling over fifty feet off the ground, Greyson hung for our dear lives. His grip slipped and I squealed when our bodies swayed violently. He grunted and latched his hand back on to the ledge.

"We're okay." The tenderness in his tone nerved me.

"Are you two alright? Don't go anywhere, Leonardo is on his way with the rope!" Bennett yelled from above. He ordered people to prepare a safety net underneath, just in case.

"Don't worry dad, we'll stay right where we are." Even in situations like this, his sarcasm prevails. A gust of cool air brushes against my back and I shiver. "Are you cold? I should have lent you my sweater, but I didn't expect us to be going outside."

Instead of answering back with equal kindness, I snap. "I swear, if we both die today, I'm making sure your sorry ass is going to the pits of hell for making me involved in all this."

I expected him to get mad, maybe get so perturbed he'd drop me to my death, but instead I receive a smug grin. "Babe, I'd run through fire if that's what it takes for you to at least like me by a smudge." This momentarily stuns me and I can't create a brilliant retort to put him to shame. Next, he goes from charming to annoying. "You know, I've pictured this moment in my mind several times since we've meet. I thought we'd be tangled together in bed. Not hanging to our deaths."

"You-OH MY GOSH!"

"What! What are you screaming about?"

Holy Shit! It had four sets of hairy legs and multiple beady eyes staring straight at me.