Chapters (50)
“What is that? . . . What’s going on here?”
“It’s nothing, it’s just—”
“What are you? Who are you, really ?” He jumped to his feet and began blindly stepping back.
“It’s me, Ryan, it’s Amy.”
“No, no . . . you’re not Amy. You’re not her.”
“I am! I’m the girl you spent the day with, remember? I’m the same girl!” She reached out her hand, but he drew back even farther, dangerously close to the cliff.
“No, there’s something wrong. You’re lying to me. Stay back. Don’t come any closer!”
“Ryan, stop moving!” Amy pleaded. “I’m here to help you! Trust me, please! Take my hand!”
“No! I don’t . . . I . . . I don’t understand. I don’t know what’s happening to me.”
Amy could feel the ground sloping away, could sense they were perilously close to the edge.
“Ryan, please stop. This is dangerous! ”
“I said stay back! You shouldn’t be here. You don’t belong here!”
“And you don’t belong here either! Listen to me, Ryan, this isn’t where you’re meant to be!”
Ryan shook his head. “I don’t know who or what you are, but I want you to get the hell away from me, right now !”
Amy refused and reached out her hand again, only this time, while making his retreat, Ryan went back too far and stepped off the edge.
“Ryan! ”
Amy lunged and caught his outstretched hand, but it wasn’t enough to break his momentum and stop him from tumbling backward. She hit the ground but somehow managed to hang on to him, halting his plunge, except now his body was dangling midair. Amy barely had the strength to hold on.
“Don’t let me fall! Please don’t let me fall . . .”
“I’m not letting you fall, Ryan! Hang on! ”
Amy grabbed his arm with her other hand and tightened her grip, but the weight of him was dragging her along the ground and pulling her off the edge too. She dug her feet in but couldn’t stop sliding. Her arms felt like they were on fire, every muscle burning as she strained to stop him from plummeting to the sea below. She needed to pull him up, needed to get to her feet, but she didn’t have the strength to stand. All she could do was hold on tight and try her damnedest not to let go.
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