Standing at the edge of the rooftop, you could barely breathe. The first jumper had already taken the leap, vanishing into the darkness below. “You,” he called, pointing directly at you. “Step up. Time to jump.”

You froze, mouth open. “Uh… Me?”

“Yeah, you,” he replied, arms crossed, eyes glinting with something that almost looked like amusement. “Unless you’re waiting for a personal invitation.” but your legs felt glued to the ground.

“Move!” a voice snapped, low and sharp. Eric Coulter was right behind you, his gaze cold and impatient.

Now, it was your turn, and your heart was racing. You looked down, legs frozen, trying to psych yourself up to take the plunge.

“Any day now,” he drawled, crossing his arms.

You gulped, struggling to keep your voice steady. “I—I’m going to jump… just… a second.”

He sighed, glancing at his watch. “You know, courage isn’t measured in how long you stand here looking down.”

You took a shaky breath, willing your feet to move, but they remained stubbornly glued to the edge.

Eric let out an exasperated sigh. Then, to your shock, you felt his hand on your shoulder, firm and unyielding. “You’ve got two choices,” he said, his voice dropping to a dangerous murmur meant just for you. “Jump now, or let the fear consume you. But if you hesitate any longer, I’ll decide for you.”

“Alright,” he muttered, rolling his eyes.

Before you could protest, you felt his hand at your back. And then, with an unexpected and decidedly unceremonious shove, you were airborne, tumbling into the darkness with a startled scream.

The weight of his hand sent a jolt through you, like a spark igniting something dormant.

With a final, shuddering breath, you took the leap, feeling his hand fall away as you plunged into the unknown. The freefall was dizzying, exhilarating—nothing like you’d imagined. And when you landed in the net below, your heart racing, you looked up to see him peering over the edge, his expression unreadable.