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My fingers tangle in the plastic fence

I fall

I hit the side of the building and keep screa

My throat’s raw by the ti between the third and fourth floors, holding on to the plastic fence like my life depends on it becausewell, it does

A chuckle drawsall jolly and relaxed

"I can’t believe you held on," he says

The h I’round, I’nize hiut tells me who he is: Aren, son of Jorreb, the false-blood who’s deter at ers cra on forever if it keepssnaps loose from the wall and I drop another foot

"Whoa, easy there Easy," Aren says

"Back off!" I mean to yell the words, but they co for his help, but a part of nore the part that believes he’s dead

"Sure," Aren says in an infuriatingly devil-ive me your hand first? There’s no need for you to fall"

"I won’t help you!"

"I’ive me your h--"

The plastic rips free fro for iot you"

Heart thudding, I look up He does have , his left hand wrapped in the fence, his right hand grasping the opening’s fra I was rab s I think the fence will rip if I try to pull you up Can you do that?"

I nod I don’t care who he is anymore I don’t want to die I want to live I want to be noret a real job, and spend time with some real-life friends Hell, I want to have sex at least once before I croak

The thought of death pulls aze toward the concrete

"No, don’t look down, McKenzie Look up here Look at ht but soft, like silver sand with tiny shards of diamonds, and his expression is serious but not strained The last part iht be thin, but I’hts