The Unknown Enemy ∘ Marvel [3]

Chapter 36: And Yet She Becomes

I've found myself becoming increasingly annoyed with the numerous occasions I find myself falling. This incident would be the third in the last ten minutes.

My fingers released their tight grip on the dip in the side of the helicarrier and my stomach dropped along with the rest of me. My heart threw itself straight into my throat when my plummet began, the terribly likely reality this incredibly hurried plan couldn't work very present in my mind.

If all else fails.

First thing to do to ensure you survive a drop from this height; break your fall.

I'd personally like to thank whoever invented the 'rope bullet' as they had saved my life countless times courtesy of my tendency to fall from high places. My prior planning served me well when my free hand slid around the one pistol on my though I had not touched during the fight. In a frantic scramble to hold onto it while also releasing the projectile before I built up to much momentum, my fingers squeezed around the trigger. A cord ejected out from the barrel with impressive speed and a grappling hook shot out at the end. It dug itself into the side of the carrier while the cable still extended to its full length. More tedious seconds of the harrowing drop as top of the first building grew near.

Both of my hands wrapped around the handle of the gun desperately, still trying to catch a breath before a quick jerk. My halt was jarring when the rope fully extended and I stopped very abruptly. The sudden stop in my descendent has pulled on my arms so harshly I was glad neither had been pulled out of socket.

My arm muscles burned while I once again took in how far away the top of the first building was. While I had shortened the distance significantly, there was still some left to go. A gale of wind played with my body as it sent me slightly swinging in one direction. My hold tightened when I began to move like a pendulum and that only tested my waning strength more. Shaking, I looked back down to Sam Wilson, who appeared very confused while worriedly observing my predicament.

Do I make this random guy I met yesterday catch me or do I risk breaking my legs?

Another idea came to mind; the parachute. The white canvas was sprawled across the roof. My trembling form still struggled to keep a grip so there was no way I could pull myself up to access my comm, so I gave shouting down to him a go.

"The chute!" I yelled down to Wilson, who was standing still with his neck craned up, "Bunch up the chute!"

"What?"

"The parachute!"

While I couldn't make out exact facial details, the animated scowl he sent up was enough to know he was still confused and greatly doubting my intelligence, "You want me to catch you?"

"Bunch up the parachute!" I pushed all available authority I could into my vocal cords in hopes I could be heard, "I'll land on it!"

Did I mention the helicarrier was still rising up? Yes, that was happening with the pain I was experiencing mounting on as well.

He finally seemed to get my message while he sprang into action to initiate my idea. My arms strained in suffering to keep the rest of my body up. Exhaustion dowsed over me in relentless pursuit and the idea to just let myself drop now was getting increasingly tempting.

Keep it together. Hold on.

I forced myself to put more effort in as my knuckles turned white and the metal of the handle dug into my skin. I hadn't stopped trembling and was still swinging. Beads of sweat gathered at the edge of my hairline while the metallic sting of blood tasted bitter in my mouth. The tension in my upper body had now started to become even more painful as I grappled to keep a grip just a little longer. My gaze went down to Sam, who was working to help soften the fall.