Depthless: Under The Library

Chapter Twenty// Stella

Stella's POV

I watch in grim fascination at Niko, bound up, unable to wriggle more than two inches at a time, blood soaked bandage around his head, being pulled up little by little. As soon as Niko reached the tenth rung, I allow myself to score the rope, searching for the agility I'd once possessed.

Don't panic, don't look down. I repeat the instructions silently in my head. Put one hand on the rung above, pull myself up, place my foot on the next rung, pause to keep a watch out for Niko's progression.

He looks about as comfortable as a cow being forced to take a swim in a lake. He knows he has to do it... it's this or nothing. And yet he has to set back his fears, his injuries, just to concentrate on being hauled to firm ground.

Under the bright beam of light, I see his facial expression. He's determined, straining to pull free, push away his injuries, just concentrating on being tugged up the edge is draining what little that's left of his strength.

Gripping the sides of the rope ladder tighter, I cheer him on. "Come on, Niko! Just ten more rungs!" "You'll get there soon!" Pretty soon, all the curious spectators started up an encouraging chant. Between movements, Niko looked down and threw me a slight smile. His veins strained around where the rope eats at his flesh. Blood drains from his face at an alarming rate, his translucent skin tight around the rope.

I nod and shout more words of encouragement. Sweat attacked me, leaving me sticky and glum, but I keep on and on, until at last, Niko arrives at the edge, and ready hands reach out to pull him to safety. Cheers erupted from above, letting me know that Niko's in safe hands.

Exhaling a relieved breath, I shout, "I'm coming up now!"

As I nearer the opening, I spy David's dark hair, his worried face sticking over the edge. I look up and wave, steadying myself against the now wobbling rope ladder. David points downwards... at me? And I see his mouth moving rapidly. He screams, and my mind just freezes over. What's happening?

Fear gripped me, dragging me into a murky darkness of dread. Something's gone wrong. Daring another upwards step, I feel the ladder tether dangerously.

David utters a long, horrified scream, points in my direction, and this time, as if some sort of irony, I hear every word:

"The rope's breaking!"

*****

Sweat tricked down my neck, soaking my blouse. "What?" I yell, hardly daring to take a look below. My hands tremble as I grip the swaying sides of the ladder, now hanging suspended from above. I scream as I feel something give way below me, and the ladder takes a dangerous twist to the left.

Terrified, I swing my shaky legs up and haul up the ladder. "Help me!" I scream wildly. I squeeze my eyes shut as the rope ladder dangles in midair, no longer secured from both ends. With tremendous effort, I push my body upwards, daring myself to climb the last ten or so rungs.

Good thing I'm not afraid of heights, or I'll possibly be down there.

Shuddering, I swing myself up, one step at a time, trying not to relish the fact that the rope is now shaking so violently, one false move from me might send me crashing straight into the wall opposite.

"David!" I screech. I couldn't keep the tears from overflowing. As I stretch out a hand to reach the next rung, the ladder sways sharply to the right with a sudden jerk. I scream, calling out for help. Tears spilled from my eyes, blurring my vision. I'm dimly aware of urgent shouts from above, as some other force grips the ladder from above.

I whimper weakly tears entering my mouth. Oh, why had I volunteered on such a suicide mission? Sure, in the end, I'd succeeded in rescuing Niko. But now, it's my life which is threatened at the moment.

High pitched shrieks from above did nothing to calm my panic. Gathering up my strength, I let go of one hand, just as the ladder began to move upwards. I scream as I almost lose my balance.

Faster and faster, I'm hoisted up by the top ends of the rope ladder. Sobbing in relief at the beautiful prospect of salvation, I just let myself hang limply onto the ropes as the strong people on the top haul me slowly up the inclined walls.

Thank goodness I'm safe! I can't believe I hadn't thought of climbing down on a rope ladder...

I tune into the muffled noises from above, their voices clearing in my mind. I'm faintly aware of David yelling at the guys to pull harder. Harder, stronger, faster...

My mind is blurry. I couldn't see more than two feet in front of me. Tears sting my eyes, but now they're tears of relief. Gasping for breath, I feel myself nearing the edge of the opening. I hear David shout a warning to me, but in my groggy state, I feel a slight doubt wrapping around my mind, squeezing my senses shut.

What is there to look out for? I'm not going to plunge to my death, my friends won't let me. I'm absolutely safe---

I lift my head to shout something, and that's when I banged my head against a jagged rock. Hard. It happened in a swift movement, leaving me temporarily blinded to my surroundings, as giddying stars swarm my mind. Voices shrieked out in alarm as the ladder was pulled, with one last ounce of combined strength, I hit rock ground.

Willing hands gathered me up. Panicked voices called out my name. By this time, most of me is lost, floating away from reality. I can't feel my surroundings. That blow to my head had knocked me senseless. I almost blacked out.

Trembling fingers brushed the tears from my eyes, and my vision cleared, but the world still continued to spin around and around my personal axis, like I'm the anchor to the Earth's core.

At the back of my mind, I hear frightened yells, orders to send for more medics. Someone pulls me into a cradle position. It's David? It has to be him. Drowsy, I giggle, quite girlishly, inhaling his scent on his shirt. He smelled of sweat and a faint trace of citrus. "Davy." I sigh.

I feel him stiffen. "Hold still. Keep yourself steady, Stella." I hear the panic in his voice he tried to hide. I heard it through the put on bravery, through my foggy state.

Wriggling for comfort, I feel him stagger under my weight."I can't see." I announce with a nervous giggle. I don't know why I giggled. It just escaped from my lips. I'm going bonkers. That blow must've been one hell of a knockout, my vision is dimming, black spot taking over my sight, blocking out my surroundings.

"Stella..." David chokes up. I feel his body shaking. "Put me down." I whisper.

"You promised." He clutches me tighter.

I must've been conscious enough to appear confused, because I hear David whisper, his voice tight with emotion.

"You promised to live."

Did I? Will I?

Rushed calls and squeaky noises echoed in the back of my mind. I feel myself being lowered gingerly until my head strikes a downy pillow. My head sinks into the softness, threatening to lull me into a dark sleep.

Wheels moved as I feel myself being cartered away to a destination unknown to me. I struggle against the droop of my eyes, threatening to meet and never part. Fear grabbed my heart. Feelings lost and thoroughly frightened, I reach out a hand. "D-David?" I call out, uncertain.

For a terrible moment, I heard nothing but the squeaks the wheels made, the orders the medics shouted out about my condition. Struggling to push it away, to push everything else away, I stretch both arms out, feeling into space. "DAVID?!" I howl, fresh tears spilling down my cheeks.

Finally, I feel a comforting hand grasp my own, masculine pants as he ran to catch up pace with me.

"Stella, don't worry... you'll be safe..." He reassures me.

Satisfied that my friend hadn't abandoned me, I smile, almost comfortable on the moving bed. Sinking deeper, I could already feel the effect begin to kick in. For his sake, I try to fight it awhile longer, hold out... stay in the conscious realm...

"I'll live." The words barely escaped my lips before I feel the whole world slowing to a mushy spinning stop. Then I fall back into a fitful blackout.