I can feel my heart as it beats painfully in my chest. We have come as far as we can go and now Johnny and I are balancing on the lip of a storage tank with no way to climb up, and no way to climb down. I glance at Johnny, who looks back at me, and I see the nervousness in his eyes as we both realize that our only way to escape from the heat and flames that want to consume us is by jumping.
I look down and see safety net that the Cap and all the guys, not only from 51 but also Station 127, are unfolding, and realize that they are also aware that it's now our only option. I swallow hard as I watch them get into position, holding the net tightly in the middle of their circle in readiness to catch us when we jump. From here it looks so small, and I wonder just how we can even manage to land in it.
Don't get me wrong, I have done this type of escape just once before but that was years ago when I was training. And to be honest, even the thought of jumping and trying to safely land in the net scared the hell out of me then just as it scares the hell out of me now as I hear Cap's shouted orders to Johnny to jump and knowing I will be ordered next.
I watch as Johnny tightens the chinstrap of his helmet and takes a deep breath before he steps off the ledge into the abyss, unhesitatingly placing his trust in Cap and the guys to catch him. My heart is in my mouth as I watch him fall and I find myself holding my breath until I see him land safely in the middle of the net. I watch him climb out and turn towards me and even from this height I know he is waiting anxiously for me to jump as he scrambles off the net before grabbing it himself, wanting to help catch me as Cap calls to me it's my turn.
Taking a deep breath and pushing away my fear, I step into the void as I too place my full, unwavering trust in the men holding the safety net below, waiting to catch me.
E!E!E!E!