TITLE: Cliffhanger
AUTHOR: Dana Hale
RATING: K+
SPOILERS: Of Human Action
SUMMARY: How far will Peter go to save Olivia from the mind-controlling clutches of a madman?
DISCLAIMER: No in"fringe"ment intended. So don't sue me.
His eerily calm voice permeated her mind in a ceaseless attack on her psyche. He had her right where he wanted her. He mentally chided her: Jump....jump....jump....you know you want to....jump.
Olivia could not break her trance with his eyes. She knew subconsciously what he was doing. He was going to kill her. There was no way she had the kind of power to overtake his mind control. She could not will her feet to stay in place. Instead, she felt her legs walking backwards, one step at a time, closer to the edge of the cliff. He telepathically told her to look behind her, to see just how far up they were on the mountain. As she turned her head to gaze down the cliff's edge, she saw the raging white water of the river several hundred feet below.
He didn't even flinch when he heard the helicopter hovering over. While he knew it was the FBI coming to rescue their own, he much rather enjoyed the look of panic and sheer fear in Olivia's eyes. It would be oh so fun to watch her kill herself. Just a few more steps....that's right...keep walking....
The helicopter found a spot on the top of the mountain to quickly land. Two FBI agents along with Broyles and Peter poured out of the aircraft and took their positions.
"FBI! We've got you surrounded! Release Olivia or we will shoot you!" Broyles shouted over the roar of the helicopter blades. All agents had their guns drawn and pointed at the man who had already killed three other officers with his mind-controlling powers.
The madman just smiled and continued his trance with Olivia. Tears were streaming down her cheeks as she took another step. She was so close now to the edge that the heel of her shoe kicked a few pebbles from the ground and they skidded over the edge plunging down to the river below. She was about to meet the same fate.
"OLIVIA!" Peter screamed. "Olivia, look at me!" Peter approached slowly to the front of the action, trying to get as close as possible without making things worse. "Olivia, don't listen to him! You have to fight! OLIVIA!"
"Oh but she does have to listen to me! Everyone has to listen to me!" the madman taunted.
"Stop right now or we will shoot..." Broyles warned.
"Just one more step..." the madman laughed. "Trust me, this will be great! It's such a long fall, her pretty little neck will snap into so many pieces!"
"STOP RIGHT NOW OR WE WILL SHOOT," Broyles demanded.
"Olivia, please! You've got to fight him!" Peter desperately pleaded, trying to get her attention. She would not look at him. Her eyes were glued to the man who held her mind captive.
Olivia's left foot lifted from the ground and went over the edge. Broyles and the two FBI agents fired their weapons all at once and hit him square in the chest several times, each bullet making the madman jerk and stumble. Just as he fell to the ground, Olivia lost her mental connection with the madman and suddenly became very aware of her predicament. With only one foot on the ground and one in the air, she lost her balance. She fell backward over the edge of the cliff, falling, falling....screaming....
"NOOOOO!!!!" Peter bolted past the body of the madman now lying dead on the ground and scurried to the edge of the cliff. He heard the splash but didn't see Olivia. "OLIVIA! OLIVIA!" Terrified, he contemplated diving off the cliff and jumping into the river after her. He was just about to do it when Broyles grabbed his arm.
"What do you think you're doing?" Broyles said harshly. "You can't go after her like that!"
"Watch me." Peter's determined eyes threatened to spill tears as he continued to gaze far down the edge of the mountain. He pushed his way out of Broyles grip and took off his black leather jacket, preparing to jump. Broyles grabbed him again.
"I won't let you do this. Let's get a team down there. We'll find her."
Peter was in shock. He was dizzy but he couldn't move. He just kept staring at the long drop down to the river.
"Peter," Broyles said, shaking him. "PETER. Peter, look at me!"
Peter finally met Broyles eyes. "We WILL find her. Alive. She's strong," Broyles tried to reassure Peter. "Come on, we've got to get down there."
Peter angrily grabbed his jacket from off ground and Broyles pushed Peter toward the helicopter. They quickly got in and took off. The other agents had called for backup, and sirens could already be heard down below, the sounds echoing and bouncing off the face of the mountain.