CHAPTER 87
“No!” Laney ran for her uncle on legs of Jell-O, terror almost dropping her to her knees. She barely registered Gideon as he sprinted away.
Henry reached the edge just as she did. Patrick had managed to grab onto a cliff edge only six feet down. He was barely hanging on.
“Grab my legs,” Henry yelled as he lowered himself head first over the edge.
Jake and Yoni threw themselves on Henry’s legs as he stretched out desperately to reach Patrick.
Laney felt like she was coming apart inside. This couldn’t be happening.
Patrick stretched up his hand. Henry was still too far away.
Trusting Yoni and Jake to keep him from plunging to his death, Henry stretched himself completely over the ledge, with only the tips of his boots touching the ground.
Laney held her breath, not daring to breath. This time, Henry reached Patrick’s fingers. Slowly, fingers crawled along fingers, until he grasped Patrick’s wrist.
“Pull us up!” Henry kept a death grip on Patrick.
Together, Yoni and Jake pulled on Henry, and Tom jumped in as well, adding the extra muscle needed to pull the two men up.
As Patrick got close to the edge, Laney leaned over to grab Patrick’s shirt and helped pull him back onto solid ground. He yelped as she grabbed onto his arm. She quickly adjusted her position and grabbed him by the shirt, yanking him over the side. She wrapped her arms tightly around him.
“You’re okay. You’re okay,” she repeated over and over, not sure who she was trying to reassure.
Yoni sat up first and looked around. “Where’d Gideon go?” he asked.
“There.” Tom pointed to the main entrance.
Yoni started to rise to go after him, but Henry stayed him with an arm.
“Gideon’s mine.” Henry’s voice left no room for discussion and he took off after him.
Laney kissed her uncle on the cheek. “I have to help him.” She turned to Yoni and Tom. “Take care of him."
Jake pulled her up. “I’m coming with you.”
“I never doubted it.” She sprinted towards the exit, Jake at her side. It was time to end this.