Deadlocked 7 Read Online Free

above them, over the fireplace where a brass cross was placed.
    Everyone looked up and Kim shook her head. “How the hell could anyone get up there? We don’t have a ladder.”
    “I could get up there,” said Annie.
    “How?” asked Arthur, doubtful but curious.
    “I can climb that.”
    Kim laughed. “Give me a break. You’re going to get yourself killed. No, you’re coming downstairs with us. Besides, we have no idea how long it’s going to be before Hero and the others attack. You could be up there for hours.”
    Annie thought about being in the basement with the others for hours. She would prefer being alone all that time instead. She had to convince Kim to let her try and climb the fireplace, and she knew exactly how to do it. “Just because you know you can’t climb it doesn’t mean no one else could.”
    Kim glared at her sister. “Fine, go ahead and try. I bet you can’t make it even halfway up.”
    Annie bounded up and eagerly went to the fireplace. “See you guys later.”
    “This is a bad idea,” said Arthur.
    “You’re going to get hurt,” said Vic. “And then we’re all going to be in trouble.”
    “No,” said Kim. “Let her try. Besides, if she’s right and she really can get up there, that would be a hell of a spot to take out anyone that came in here.”
    “Fucking hell,” said Arthur. “This has ‘Bad Idea’ written all over it.”
    Annie used a table to help her get onto the mantle, and she tested the depth of the space between the stones with her thin fingers as she balanced on the perch. Then she started to get down.
    “See,” said Kim. “She can’t climb up there.”
    Annie hopped off the mantle and sat on the table that she’d used to climb up a moment before. “Yes I can.” She started to unlace her boots.
    The others watched as Annie took her shoes and socks off. She hid them under the couch, not wanting them to draw attention from anyone in Hero’s crew later, and then climbed back onto the mantle. The gaps in the stonework were too small to fit her boot, but her toes fit just fine.
    “Holy shit,” said Arthur. “She’s really doing it.”
    Annie was emboldened by their surprise as she ascended the precarious rock wall. She was about ten feet up before she dared to look down.
    “Okay,” said Kim. “You proved your point. Now get down before you get yourself killed.”
    Annie was frozen in fear as she stared down at the others. She felt the blood drain from her face as she closed her eyes. Her heartbeat thundered in her chest and her fingertips felt slick with sweat.
    “Shit,” said Vic. “She’s freaking out. Come on down, Annie. We can catch you.”
    “No,” said Annie. “I’m fine.”
    “No you’re not.” Kim’s tone had changed from that of an annoyed peer to a concerned sister. “Please just come down from there.”
    Annie stared up at the ceiling, determined to continue on. As the others pleaded with her to come down, she ascended, each inch a miracle as her fingers and toes ached. The climb was far harder than she’d anticipated, but she made it to the top.
    The nook was larger than it looked from the f loor, as were the cross and wreath that decorated it. She nearly slipped off the edge as she tried to get a grip on the dusty ledge, but she was able to pull herself up and then gaze down at the others.
    The boys cheered, but Kim stood with her arms crossed.
    “Told you!” Annie slid the heavy cross to the edge. “Look out below.” She pushed the brass decoration off and it slammed into the floor with enough force to break it in two. Arthur and Vic took the pieces and put them in the corner of the room as Annie tossed off the wreath as well, leaving her a comfortable space to camp.
    “Just how do you plan on getting down?” asked Kim.
    “I’ll worry about that later.”
    Kim was frustrated, but couldn’t do anything about it. She motioned for the others to follow her to the basement as the group left Annie behind. The