Jewel of Ice

I had tried to hard too gain her trust, her friendship, to have to lose it now.

My shoulders were screaming, one tearing away from the pitiful railing, the other struggling to hold up her weight. At less than 120, she wasn't that much, but I was currently holding her at a ninety degree angle, over a twenty story drop, into a minuscule fountain-pool... thing.

My hands were beginning to sweat and I could feel my grip on the bar slipping; I was already laying flat on the floor of the balcony, and I felt my body inching it's way closer to falling over the edge.

"Luke." I heard her whisper. She was holding on with both hands, and swinging in the wind. I knew what this was for her; It was her worst nightmare. It was like we were standing in the wheel room again, and suddenly it was a whole year ago, before she knew about me, about any of it.

I was snapped back into the present with a loud shriek of bending metal; the bar I was wrapped around wasn't going to last another five minutes.

"Just let go--" She said.

"Just give them another minute. I can hold on." I hissed through my teeth.

"I know you can, but that railing can't." and I felt her let go. I gripper her tighter.

She was not going to fall. She wasn't going to fall. She wasn't.

Luke, I am not taking you with me. I'll hit the water-- I'll be fine." I could almost hear the tears. her voice was choked and constricted with fear, and almost anger.

She moved and I looked over the edge. .

No.

"Yes." She twisted hard and bent backwards into a graceful swan dive, as she broke my grip. I felt my heart plummet with her.

"Luke!" Percy's voice echoed behind me.

I struggled into a kneeling position looking over the edge. I promised her. I made a promise never to let her fall. I jumped to my feet and took a couple steps back before running at the edge. I jumped and spun in mid air, firing the short range pistol Leo Jerry-rigged for me and watched as the nearly indestructible wire and hook shot up, and into the ledge. I fell and and my speed gradually slowed.

I looked down to see Liz standing in the middle of the pool; She was fine.

But she was watching someone. She looked to me as My feet hit the ground and I ran towards her.

She was crying. She mouthed, 'I'm sorry', and turned back to him. then took a single step forward.

in an instant the small pool was lit up with jumping, aching electricity; Liz stood rigid, and then as the lights faded she fell into the pool.

I forgot about the other person, I forgot about Percy and Annie. I ran into the pool and dropped to my knees next to her. I pulled her up to my chest. I felt her neck for a twitch , a pulse, anything.

Nothing.... no pulse.... no breath....

She was gone....

Notes

Sorry..... Kinda.... Not really.