Chapter 20 Ivy
IVY
“Ms. Walker, you have a guest here to see you,” Anthony broadcasts after he knocks on my bedroom doorframe.
Brooke pops up behind him, a bright smile. “Hiya.”
She’s not who I was expecting. But I’m glad it’s not Everett.
After he woke up this morning, he was way too hungover to function and kept apologizing for showing up drunk.
An apology wasn’t needed, but I have to admit I was relieved when he left.
But that doesn’t mean I want to deal with peppy Brooke either.
And she’s in full lively mode as she tells me, “Let’s go. ”
“Go where?”
Her hands prop on her hips, “The fairgrounds. Remember? You said you’d go.”
“Yeah, because I wanted you to stop asking.”
“That’s rude. But you’re committed. Let’s go. It’ll be fun.”
“An abandoned amusement park at night doesn’t sound very fun.”
“Well, you won’t know until you try it.” Sensing my reluctance, she tries even harder with her pleading expression. “Really, it’ll be a cool experience. The place is like another world at night.”
“I’m sure.”
She becomes less peppy and more pouty with each passing minute. “Come on. Luca won’t be there if that’s what you’re worried about.”
“No, I’m not worried about him.”
A sly smile stretches across her mouth, “Sure. So, let’s go. We can get some food on the way there because I need something in my stomach before we start drinking.”
After dealing with drunken Everett last night, I don’t want to party. But the way he passed out and didn’t move an inch, makes it tempting. Maybe that will help me do the same. It can’t hurt.
As soon as we grab some burgers, we’re on our way to the fairgrounds. The park has been abandoned since Katrina flooded it two decades ago.
I’ve seen the place from the highway a few times. But walking through the iron gates at night gives the terrain an eerie feeling. Nature has taken over the landscape, shrubbery and vines covering much of what would have been maintained if the park was open.
Brooke carefully and methodically maneuvers through the site. “You’re right. This place is so not fun.” She turns on her flashlight to inspect her shoes, then continues walking.
“So, whose bright idea was it to hang out here?”
“Not sure,” she replies as we approach a group standing near the entrance to the large wooden coaster.
“Ivy,” Micah calls out as he walks over, giving me a hug that I don’t return. And as soon as he releases me, I’m met with a harsh scowl from Luca as Micah tells us, “Let me grab y’all a drink.”
I stay locked in a silent stare down with Luca as I tell Brooke, “You said he wouldn’t be here.”
Brooke mummers, “Sorry, I didn’t think he would be here.”
Micah passes us each a beer when he returns. “Drink up. The fun is about to begin. Seven minutes to go.”
I turn, taking a few gulps from the longneck before I ask, “What’s happening in seven minutes?”
“The only game worth playing.” Micah clanks his bottle against mine; his lips still curved in a sly smile as he takes a drink.
“Sounds like I’ll need another beer for that.” I finish most of the one in my hand and Micah passes me another.
“Is Cain not coming?” Brooke asks, motioning to where Remy and a few guys I recognize are walking up.
“Nope. He doesn’t want to play.”
Minutes later, several phones ding with alerts. Micah pulls his phone out and stares at the screen as he states, “Ascend if you dare. Climb to the highest peak of the wooden coaster then face your fate with your ally. Pick wisely, for your fate will forever be tied to theirs.”
“Wow. Totally ominous,” Brooke quips.
“Come on, ladies. Up for the challenge?” he asks, shoving his phone back in his pocket before he downs the remainder of his drink.
Brooke sips hers in answer.
“You’re scared.” He teases her then looks to me. “How about you, Ivy? Too scared to accept the dare?”
“No. It’s stupid and trivial.”
“Mercy is anything but trivial.” Brooke shifts uneasily as she stares up at the old wooden coaster that appears to be barely staying upright. “I don’t want to play.”
“At least go to the top and see what it’s all about,” Micah pleads.
She thinks on it for a few seconds, then asks me, “Will you come with us?”
“Why not,” I reply and follow as Micah leads the way. I’m more than aware Luca is joining in on the quest. But my attention moves to where we’re trekking up the path, the wooden boards creaking beneath my feet.
Every so often, I feel a twinge of unease in my gut. We’re about halfway up with Remy in front of us when he starts dramatically stumbling and wobbling like he’s losing his balance. “Y’all feel that? It’s swaying. I bet it’s gonna collapse at any moment.”
“Stop it, Remy,” Brooke shrieks as she clings to what’s left of the handrail.
“Just ignore him.” I tell her and take a few more steps. It does feel unsteady, but I don’t think it’s on the verge of giving out. “The bones are fine.”
Brooke asks, “And if they’re not?”
“Then we die,” Micah answers.
Brooke turns to slap his arm and yells, “Shut the fuck up.”
The guys keep poking at her, and she keeps giving them the reactions they’re aiming for until Remy asks me, “Aren’t you scared, Walker?”
I don’t answer him, but I’m not scared to die. Looking out over the landscape as we reach the top, there’s a clear view of New Orleans lighting up the night sky in the distance as we stand on the wooden coaster concealed in the shadows.
“Now what?” Remy asks as Micah looks at his phone. “Time to face our fate with an ally.”
“What the flip does that mean?” Garrett asks.
“Look at that.” Brooke motions to a cable attached to the rail a few feet away that disappears into the darkness. “No way. I’m not doing that.”
It takes a second for me to see what she’s pointing at. There’re harnesses laying in a pile nearby.
“Who’s going first?” Micah asks before he looks over his shoulder. “Luca, want to test it out?”
His brother doesn’t answer him.
A few of the others whisper, debating on who’s going, but no one gets closer to the edge.
Until Micah does. “Fine, I’ll go first. At least I won’t have much competition since you pussies will all be up here crying.”
When he picks up a harness, another comes tethered to it. “For the ally, I’m assuming.” He pulls on his own before untethering the second one.
Brooke takes a step down the path we just walked up. “I don’t want to play. Mercy is stupid and not worth it.”
Micah holds the gear up to me. “How about you, Ivy? Want to jump with me? I could use a worthy ally. Or are you too scared?”
So, he’s as crazy as his brother. “I just don’t see the point in it.”
“To fly and not give a fuck about anything.” Micah spreads his arms like he’s soaring through the air before he tells me, “Come on. I’ll protect you.”
When I glance over, Luca is eyeing us intently; his nastiness looks like he’s about to boil over. And maybe there’s part of me that wants to piss him off a little more.
“Sure.”
“No,” Luca states as he steps closer. “She’s going with me.”
I gape at him, unsure who’s supplied him with such audacity, but it’s on overload. “Who the fuck says?”
He bluntly replies, “I do. You go with me. Or you don’t at all.”
“You’re insane. Besides, it’s not your choice.
” As soon as I take a step closer to Micah, Luca’s rigid, motionless stance vanishes.
Swiftly, his hand darts out around Brooke’s neck, and I watch as he leads her closer to the ledge.
His hard stare on me. “It’s your choice. You go with me, or Brooke falls first.”
“Luca,” Micah seethes, slowly moving closer to where Luca is. But there’s no way he can get to him in time if Luca is serious.
Brooke clings to his arm and pleads, “Don’t. Please. Luca, please stop.”
The fear I see in her tells me she doesn’t believe he’s bluffing.
“Let her go,” I demand.
His response is firm and clear, “Make your choice.”
The closer I get to him, the more Brooke’s panic rises as she begs, “Please, Ivy. I’ll go with Micah. You go with Luca. Okay?”
“Fine,” I reply. “Remove your hand now.”
The tension doesn’t subside as he slowly releases her, directing her closer to Micah. She sucks in a deep breath, her hands on her throat where his were. “You’re a fucking asshole, Luca.”
He doesn’t even look at her when he responds, “Yeah. I know.”
Luca does however turn his attention to his brother, watching intently as Brooke pulls on a harness and we do the same.
Once I have the gear on, Luca tethers his to mine then reaches over to the cable and attaches the carabiner on his harness directly to the trolley hanging from a steel cable that’s so thin it doesn’t give me much faith that it’ll hold both of us.
Inching closer to the drop off, I look down but can’t see the ground. There’s nothing but a vast, dark abyss.
“Having second thoughts?” Luca asks, almost a teasing nature in his voice. “You’ll regret it if you don’t do this.”
I turn my complete animosity on him. “Knowing you is the only thing I regret.”
My response only brings him more amusement, if his half-smile tells me anything. His hands grip my ass as he lifts me, and out of sheer instinct, my arms automatically wrap around his neck as my legs hook around his waist. He whispers, “Liar,” then steps off the platform.
The hot air hits my face as we roughly sail along the cable, sparks flying where the old metal trolley grinds against the cable. Darkness is growing around us, enveloping us as we fall. His arms keep a secure grip on me, getting tighter as we sink lower.
The ground is finally becoming more visible as I look down, but we’re not slowing. And I realize that I don’t care how this ends.
My grip eases on his neck as I lean my head back and shut my eyes, taking in a deep breath. Why does this feel like the first real moment in months?
When I open them, he’s watching me.
Why the fuck did it have to include him?
We’re slowing down but not enough. As the end of the cable that’s hooked to a building comes into view, it’s obvious the ancient braking system is failing. Somehow his hold gets tighter on me as he lurches around so his back can absorb the impact of the wall as we halt to an abrupt stop.
Looking back, I see the top of the wooden coaster in the distance and can’t believe we just did that.
I attempt to get free of him, but he keeps me clutched against him. “You can get your hands off me now.”
“Don’t act like you didn’t enjoy it.” He finally releases me and unlatches us from the cable before undoing my harness.
“I did. Especially the part where you hit the wall. You’re the only part I didn’t enjoy.”
“Too bad, Ivy. You’re bound to me now; tied to me, remember.”
A few minutes later, Brooke and Micah arrive with a thud against the wall, Micah shielding Brooke from the hit in the same way Luca just had.
It’s about five minutes later when Remy and Garrett sail along, back-to-back as they hoot and holler.
As they try to unhook, Remy jokes, “I’m not hugging you, dude. ”
Garrett struggles with the gear as he yells, “No shit, man. I need to unhook from your harness.”
“Who else is doing it?” Brooke asks, shakily as she looks up at the coaster. Three other pairs arrive after Remy and Garrett.
Micah keeps his watch on Luca as he says, “Looks like everyone is playing the game. Time for the fun to really begin.”
I really don’t like the sound of that. Especially after seeing the shit show at the top of the coaster.
Brooke is the first to walk off. “I’m ready to leave. This is so outrageous. I didn’t even want to play.”
Her back is to me now, but I know I saw tears welling before she turned away. When I look back at Luca, I try to understand anything about him. Yes, he shielded me from the impact at the end, but he didn’t care who got hurt as long as he got his way. What a dickhead.
Once we’re in the car, I ask her, “Are you okay?”
“Yes.” She sniffles as she tells me, “I just didn’t want to play Mercy and now I have to.”
“You don’t have to do anything.”
She becomes a little rattled as she turns to me. “Yes, I have to now, and so do you, Ivy. It’s not just an asinine game. It’s real life-and-death consequences.”
“I’m so confused. How are we obligated to play?”
“You’ll know. And please don’t ignore the messages. The cost can be lethal.”
Like getting flung off of a roller coaster. “Do you think Luca would’ve really done it?”
There’s no hesitation as she says, “Yes. The Montclair twins always get what they want. And they don’t care who they hurt in the process.”
“Sounds like you need to find some different friends.”
She quickly retorts, “Agreed.”
Everyone is asleep and the house quiet when I get home. And sadly, my buzz has worn off. Ziplining was sobering enough, and Luca took care of the rest. Grabbing a bottle of whiskey from the cabinet, I drink down a few swallows of it and savor the burn.
My eyes drop to my wrist; the cut is scabbed over. Lifting the bottle, I gulp a few more big swallows before I put the bottle back and head upstairs.
It takes a little while, but I finally fall asleep. Fortunately, my nightmares stay away. The only problem is they’re replaced by visions of floating through the air into darkness while strong, steady arms secure me in place.