Chapter 7: Fall

Amelia scrambled to her feet and dazedly ran from Amarav, climbing a pair of stacked crates and making her way into the rafters. Rosewater turned back to them and held up a hand, which stopped the giant from crawling after her.

"I see that you don't like the way Amarav treats you when you won't cooperate. All I want is to know what you know about The Devil Mega Deus and you can go home to your little mansion of guilty wealth. Be reasonable girl, I don't want to make him truly hurt you, but I can and he will."

She looked up at the gears above her that were turning slowly, the perfect motions deliberate and precise for keeping time. There was a small window with a door in front of it on the catwalk that led to the ledge outside. Amelia shook her head and started climbing the ladder over her head to the catwalk.

Rosewater looked at Amarav. "Bring her back here, but don't hurt her too badly. It might take time if she has to be coerced, and breaking a limb all at once might simply silence her."

Amarav nodded and climbed after her, his pace slow but steady. Amelia made it to the catwalk and saw Amarav following her, his bulky body already heading for the ladder she had just climbed. She yanked at the little door, almost crying in frustration as it wouldn't budge for her. She tried again, pulling harder, the rusting iron handle cutting into her hands as she refused to give up, the wood squeaking in protest.

Amelia almost laughed in relief as the door finally flew open, spreading dust and dirt everywhere as she felt the warm sun on her face. She felt the wind blow against her legs and fear suddenly coursed through her, making her stomach ache. The catwalk shook and without looking she knew Amarav was coming to get her. Without letting another thought dominate her mind she stepped out onto the ledge, the wind pummeling her, trying to pull her off the tower.

She held onto the building, her body pressed against it as she inched along the narrow ledge. She saw Amarav follow her out, his fingers making holes in the mortar holding the bricks together. Amelia refused to look down over her shoulder, knowing she wouldn't have the courage to go on if she did. She made it to the corner of the building before she got a glimpse of what was 44 stories below her.

Her arms started to quiver as she held onto the building, her forehead pressed against the rough bricks.

She knew she couldn't tell them what was going to happen if Roger didn't change how he fought The Devil. Rosewater was notorious for using the memory fragments for personal gain whenever he could, and the idea that he would use Roger's death made her even more sick. Amarav continued to gain on her, his long arm starting to reach out for her with every step he took along the ledge.

"Come back Miss Julaine, where are you going to go?"

He got closer with each step, his fingers reaching out for her, his hands ready to drag her back into the clock tower where Rosewater would have her bones broken one at a time until she spewed out everything she knew, or worse.

"You have my personal promise that you will not be harmed if you simply tell us what we want to know."

Amelia shook her head and held onto the building, the only option she could think of currently terrifying her. Amarav continued to move closer and closer again, and he would reach her in less that three more steps, and she would be at Rosewater's mercy.

The large fingers reached for her again, and she made up her mind, her heart aching as she did. Amarav took another step and as he reached for her wrist she let go of the building, falling backwards off the the ledge, the wind racing under her as she fell the 44 floors to the ground below.