Soyeon wasn’t scared of heights. Few things scared her, if she was being frank. But as she pulled herself hand over hand up the rope, she felt a small twinge in her stomach.

Soyeon, get a grip.

She squinted. There was a full moon tonight, which was both good and bad. Good because she could see, bad because then everyone else could see her scaling the turret. But if she climbed quickly she’d close that window. So she continued to climb catlike up the wall, pushing herself to reach higher each time.

Almost there Soyeon. You can do this.

Now she could make out the white faces of Yuqi and Shuhua. She peeked at the ground below and immediately regretted her choice. The ground was so far away. She couldn’t even see Minnie and Miyeon. Soyeon closed her eyes, trying to beat back the roiling waves of nausea. Her hands felt frozen in place.

If I let go now, I’ll die.

She’d never get to do all the things she promised herself she’d do once she toppled the new regime. She wanted to fall in love. Visit other countries. Maybe start a singing career. Eat meat and drink wine all day. There was so much to do, and she wanted to do it all.

I have the heart of a lion.

With a roar she opened her eyes and feverishly wrenched herself up another few feet. But her momentum caused her to miss the rope with one of her hands and she clutched wildly at the air.

She felt herself falling.

This is it.

With a terrific yank Soyeon was airborne. She let go of the rope and crashed onto the floor of the chamber, on top of Yuqi and Shuhua.

“Idiot! Why did you pull yourself up like that instead of reaching for our hands?” Yuqi exclaimed angrily as she extricated herself from the jumble of arms and legs.

Soyeon shr