by Rimmy London
As they closed in I turned to Jordyn. “What’s the plan?” I yelled, catching everyone’s eye except Givanni. He seemed content to cover as much land as possible.
“We climb down,” Jordyn returned shortly, his eye lingering behind us as another shot rang out. My eyebrows pinched together. It seemed ridiculous, how could we ever do anything fast enough? Jordyn nodded at me. “Okay, so we don’t actually climb—have you ever been repelling Ms. Lane?” He waved us forward. “This way, right here!” He yelled, diving to the ground as another shot sounded. This time it stung the dirt, lifting a puff of dust a foot from where Jordyn landed. I dove behind him, trying to fit into as small a space as possible. Max and Givanni, who I was intensely aware of, slid to a knee beside us.
“How much time do you need?” Max huffed, pulling out a gun. Jordyn waved a hand in the air.
“Does it matter?” Jordyn answered. “I’m ready, let’s go.”
“Loriel first.” Givanni tilted his head toward me before checking his gun and aiming. I tried to look away as he shot—tried to listen to Jordyn’s words directed at me. But it was no use. I was locked on Givanni’s face.
Jordyn touched my arm and I jumped, snatching the glove he held out and slipping it onto my hand. Why he gave me one, I didn’t know—didn’t really care. Givanni flinched, ducking down and running a hand quickly across his face before straightening out again. His eyes narrowed, and his mouth formed a hard line as he shot.
“Loriel, go,” Jordyn handed me the rope, pushing me toward the cliff. “Get down!” He barked, dropping with me at the sound of gunfire. Max and Givanni unloaded their guns and I backed up quickly.
Having anchored the rope, Jordyn grabbed my left hand and clamped it around the top section of rope before threading it through my harness. Taking my other hand he gave me the tail end, lifting it up and down in explanation before abandoning me.
I looked down.
There was only sheer cliff face, followed by an angry, churning ocean beneath me. Far beneath me. With a glance at Jordyn, I knew I had to go. He was waving frantically. I moved as quickly as I could, realizing what the glove was for as the rope whizzed through my hand. Terrified, I pulled at the tail of rope, jerking myself to a stop far too often. It seemed a miracle that I made my way down in a matter of minutes. As I clung to a section of rock I wondered what I was supposed to do when I actually reached the water. Catching sight of a decent ledge I lowered myself to it and pulled the rope through, waving it as hard as I could for a signal. Jordyn no doubt gave me directions, but he should have known I wasn’t in any state to hear them.
All at once three bodies flew from the top of the cliff, ropes flailing through the air as each braced their feet against the rock and pushed off again. Their silhouettes were impressively in control. I couldn’t believe it—they would reach me in seconds. Streaking down the mountain, the buzzing sound of rope whizzed through each carabiner.
They landed on the little ledge beside me and pulled the ropes free, breathing hard. With a good ten feet to the water level we had protection from the waves, but from above we were in plain view.
“Great, Loriel. This is the perfect spot.” Jordyn placed a hand on my shoulder, smiling at me for the first time on our trip. And as much as I appreciated it, I was still surging with shock. After all, we’d just trapped ourselves within the range of their guns, and the only way to escape would be to enter shark-infested waters. Givanni’s eyes were scanning every section of rock before he finally looked at Jordyn.
“You said you had a way down?” he asked, but before anyone could reply shots rang out above us. Pressing against the cliff, we were lucky to have a half inch of cover. Bullets ricocheted off the rocky ledge, and I wrapped my arms around my head. We had to move—eventually, one of those bullets would hit their target.
I glanced at the water and swallowed hard. It was better than getting shot… maybe.
“Please tell me your plan doesn’t end here.” Givanni said, irritated. He was standing close to me with his hands against the rock on either side of my head. My gaze never wandered from his face, and I could see why he kept a clean appearance. It was impossible to look away when you added the word rugged to someone like him.
But he was watching Jordyn so curiously that I finally turned to look as well.
Astonishingly, Jordyn had a wide grin stretched across his face. “Of course not Van,” he crowed, looking more proud than I thought he merited at the moment. “Always have a way out—always.” He leaned out and peered over the ledge. “Just under there…” He jumped back as another round of gunfire started.
“We need to move,” Max yelled, shading his eyes and looking up.
“Okay, but I have to go first,” Jordyn replied. “It’s the only way you’ll find it.” Jordyn was pulling another rope out, and a few small canisters. He pushed one at each of us. “Here. This is your air. Only use it if you need to. Cover me,” He stretched out on his stomach and Max immediately fired above us. Jordyn secured the rope with an anchor identical to the one at the top of the cliff. He held the tail of rope, blew out a breath and inhaled again. Taking slow gust after gust of air, he nodded at us after the fourth inhale—and jumped off.
Even though it was clearly his plan, a surge of shock pulsed through me. I leaned over the edge. All I could see was angry seawater, but at least the rope was tight. That would be our guide.
“I say we give him sixty seconds,” Givanni said. “Ready Loriel?” He glanced to Max and back. I was sure my face showed my terror. “Or Max could go, but really I would feel better—”
“No,” I waved a hand in front of him, looking at the water and trying to build my courage up from one life-threatening fear to the next. “It’s fine—you’re right. I’ll go.”
With only a sharp nod as my signal, Max and Givanni aimed together. I lunged forward, clipping the canister to my waist and reaching for the rope in one movement. The sound of gunshots made it easy to act without thinking, and with a good grip on the anchor, I let my body slide off the solid rock ledge. I held onto the edge, and eventually looked down at the ocean. It would never stop. Nothing could calm those swells, so I had to keep moving. I loosened my grip and prepared to drop.
But when rubble peppered my face, my eyes shot open. Givanni was leaning over the edge. He held his shoulder, and blood had already covered his hand. With a grunt, he half jumped and half fell, whipping past me to the water below. I watched as he broke the surface, gasping and struggling with one arm working to keep him up. And then he disappeared again.
Without a thought, I released the anchor, watching the spot where he’d been. Max was yelling, but his voice cut off when I plunged into the water. The ocean fought me the second I fell into its grip, filling my ears and pushing from all sides.
Givanni’s shirt was the only spot of white among the darkness below, but the trail of blood he was sending out had me begging the sea to keep it a secret. He was struggling but steadily sinking. The second I threaded my arms under his he turned with a jerk. I tightened my grip, working my legs as hard as I could until he pried my hands off. He shook his head vigorously and pointed to the surface. His face was too pale. I shook my head back and held tight to his resisting hands. But my breath wouldn’t last much longer. And even as he protested his eyes rolled back and his arms went limp.
I panicked, shaking him as best as I could under the weight of the ocean. Suddenly remembering the canister at my waist I snatched it quickly and pressed it to Givanni’s mouth, trying to force the air in. But it was no use—we were still sinking. Looking desperately to the surface I brought the canister to my mouth and sucked in a tiny bit of air. I wrapped my arms around him again and kicked as hard as I could, and without his protesting, we lifted slightly. I reached for the canister again. Desperately I pulled with all my might, bringing him up so slowly it was painful. But the moment I stopped for air, we sank again. I knew he didn’t have much longer. Struggling and kicking I suppressed the growing realizati
on that I wasn’t enough. My lungs ached, and still, we sunk deeper. Despair took over and I choked out a sob, watching a cascade of bubbles rush up my face.
With a sudden powerful push, we both propelled forward. I clung to Givanni, looking back in terror. But it wasn’t what I feared most, and the sight of Jordyn and a bulky red oxygen tank had me almost choking again. My grip strained as the air tank pushed us through the turbulent water. But quickly, the light vanished and we passed the wall of rock. Ahead of us, streams of blue light filtered through the darkness. We pushed steadily towards it, and in moments my legs slid across sandy ground.
I broke the surface and gasped in as much air as I could. But in my next breath, I gripped Givanni’s shirt and pulled with all my might. His weight had solidified out of the water, and he hardly budged. Max was there in an instant, and Jordyn threw the air tank with a loud clang, taking Givanni from the other side. We dragged him from the water and his body slapped against the sandy cave floor, limp and colorless.
Bringing my hands to his cheeks, I tried not to notice the pale blue color of his lips. “Givanni?” My raspy voice wasn’t loud enough to wake him and I swallowed a mouthful of air, trying again. “Givanni!” The cave had his name echoing, sending shivers down my arms. I kept my hands on his chilled face, ignoring everything else.
Max ripped his shirt, beginning chest compressions, and I didn’t even blink when Enrica appeared, wrapping a cloth tightly around his bleeding shoulder. It seemed his body had no reaction… until suddenly it did.
Lurching to life, water gurgled in his mouth and Jordyn and Max rolled him to his side quickly. He coughed out wave after wave of seawater until finally taking a breath. The color that rushed into his features was rich and healthy, and I sunk my face into his chest, gripping his shirt in both hands. I guessed I was sobbing, but all I felt was relief.
With a groan he sat up, bringing me with him and wrapping one arm tightly around me. “I love you Loriel,” he breathed, pressing his face into my soggy hair.
Gasping, I settled against him, with my arms around his soaked shirt. It was quiet around us, although I could feel Givanni’s body turn slightly as he looked from one person to the next.
“I… I’m sorry Givanni,” Jordyn’s voice was shaking, and I thought it was strange that he should apologize when he’d just saved Givanni’s life. But I didn’t bother looking up, at least not until I heard Enrica’s labored breathing.
Standing rigid she stared at Jordyn like he was the sun—her eyes squinting and pained, but after a moment her shoulders lifted and she swallowed it away.
She must have a steel vault somewhere inside for those emotions, I thought, turning from her to Jordyn. It was hard to look away after that, with his love for Enrica written clearly on his face.
Slowly standing, he took her in with his eyes. “You found it,” he sighed, lowering again to Givanni and checking his pulse. “I knew you would.”
“Always a way out,” Enrica murmured like it was a line she’d read. Jordyn nodded, but I noticed the way he avoided Givanni’s eyes even when they were staring pointedly at him. Leaning away, I studied Givanni’s face myself, not understanding the intensity there.
“We owed you Givanni.” Having stayed in the background, Max’s voice caused a start in everyone—except Givanni.
His eyes flicked up almost angrily. “Owed me?!” Givanni thundered, the strength in his voice echoing off the shallow cave. “You owed me nothing!” With effort, he struggled to his feet. “You think you’ve succeeded? That we won?”
Max and Jordyn wore identical looks of defiance—like this was not such a surprise. But my mouth hung open. What was he talking about?
“How far do you think I got?” Givanni’s suddenly quiet voice was haunting.
“It doesn’t matter how—” Max’s protest didn’t stand a chance and I stepped forward when Givanni did, wanting to stand between them. I’d never seen him out of control.
“To the door—to the door, Max! I swam out of a sewer, nearly drown in the ocean, and was home. I actually called the police on myself,” he stopped to huff out a laugh, but there was no humor in it. “But it’s clear now that the IM has too much power. They’re not being held responsible even by law enforcement. So, instead of police protection rushing to my home, I turned off the alarm, unlocked the door, stepped inside, and the next thing I remember I’m here.” He turned to me with the same devastation on his face as before. “And you brought Loriel to this place.” His words sent a chill trembling through me.
Enrica cleared her throat. “This time will be different Givanni,” Her voice was delicate and careful. “We are here with you.”
I clasped Givanni’s hand, but his face had become guarded. A mask that I’d finally figured out. I stared right through it. “I’m in this now—there’s no changing that. They never asked me to come. I demanded it.” His eyes were fixed on me, but too stormy to read. Instead, I wrapped myself around him again as tightly as I could. He hardly moved, but I wasn’t surprised. Hope had left his face. No doubt he thought we were all doomed for death, and with the way his mind worked it was all his fault. I stepped back, and turned to Jordyn instead. He better have something brilliant.
He came to life, nodding at Enrica like a bell had gone off. She dashed deeper into the cave, although there wasn’t much farther to go. What she came back she set the rusted green box down with a grunt, getting to work adjusting wires and securing connections. I bit my lip, trying to glance at Jordyn as casually as possible. To my complete surprise, he was still smiling.
“This is untraceable,” he began encouragingly. “We can send a message out. And while I owed you a favor, Boswik owes me one.” With a quick glance at Givanni, he continued, most likely not encouraged by the look on his face. “He’s waiting to hear from us Givanni. He wanted to help get you out, even though he didn’t know you were here exactly, he’s still good on his word.” Givanni’s expression didn’t change. “Don’t worry Van, this will work.”
With a sigh, Givanni’s shoulders relaxed a fraction and the tension building around us noticeably lessened. “Okay Jordyn, it might work. Let’s say it does. How long will it take Boswik to get out here? Those brutes chasing us aren’t just going to assume that we all drown.”
“Well,” Max scoffed, lowering next to Enrica and helping with the mess of wires. “They are going to assume that you drowned, or were devoured. Who wants the repercussions of that mistake? They will keep it quiet. As far as the sharks go, we were lucky—especially with you spilling blood by the liter. Us on the other hand, they will just wait. Our boat is ruined and we’re trapped at the bottom of a cliff. No doubt they will just wait it out.” Givanni didn’t look convinced. “They will,” Jordyn continued. “They’re not trained for this—for any of this. Sure, shoot stuff, get information, but diving and climbing aren’t their strong suits.”
“Or they would have been here by now.” Givanni finished, finally looking a fraction familiar as he ran a hand through salt tangled hair. I thought he would walk right past me as he made his way to the mysterious green box of metal, but he paused in front of me. His eyes were hesitant to look up and I couldn’t figure out why.
The group had continued conversation, absorbed in their work. A few sparks of life from their machine lit the grayness surrounding us, and finally, Givanni met my stare. He exhaled, and the strength in his chest sunk.
It seemed a long while that we stood each gauging the other, and on my end, it was all admiration and gratitude. He was the most incredible person I’d ever had the pleasure of knowing—and he was alive. That was it, the complexity of my thoughts.
“My only solace in that place,” His voice came out as a low whisper, and he stepped closer before continuing. “Was that you weren’t anywhere near it. They weren’t even concerned about you any longer. They had what they wanted—complete control over me, and the company. I could live with that… I could die knowing that.”
I knew where he was taking t
his conversation, because I’d heard it before. “We will get out of here.” I interrupted, but his fingertip traced my lips lightly and I forgot the rest.
“It’s possible,” he conceded, although it wasn’t hard to see he didn’t believe that. “They knew everything about me, Ella. More than they should. They knew about my childhood, my parents, lovers, friends… they’d made all the connections.” He brushed my hair back before enclosing me in his strength, his arms holding us together. With his mouth at my ear, he continued. “Someone close to me is a betrayer, Ella. And I don’t know who it is.” With that his lips settled along my cheek, kissing me tenderly.
“I…” With a glance at the others, I stood on my toes, breathing the words. “I thought it was my father.” I stopped for a moment at the surprise on his face. “Wasn’t it? Didn’t he alert the police?”
He tilted his head briefly, acknowledging that idea, but shook the thought away. “No Ella, he didn’t betray anyone. He tried to protect you. From me. From something like this.” His eyes swept the cave and I tried to find an argument against him, but I couldn’t. He was absolutely right. “Right now I trust you, and I trust me.”
My eyes widened at the incredible idea that any of the others would be involved. I glanced at the three of them and the intensity of their work, completely absorbed. It didn’t seem possible. “It has to be someone else,” I argued. “Givanni you have to trust them, they risked everything for you.” He studied my face for a moment, and I brought my hand to his strong jaw.
“Van… take a look at this?” Max spoke in a question, waiting respectfully until Givanni had pressed his lips lightly to my hands.
They were anxiously clicking away on their machine. Murmuring out the message, Jordyn first gave our coordinates, requesting assistance and saying that we had what we came for. Max tapped away and I realized they were communicating with Morse code.
But my eyes couldn’t stray from Givanni for long. I watched the way he rubbed a hand across his face only to flinch when he reached a grayish-purple bruise at his temple. And how he shifted his feet continuously, stiff on one side—he was hurting.
