The wooden planks were rocking beneath me as I stepped up to the edge. Across from me was another airship, similar to the one I was standing in, with a huge red balloon holding aloft a metal and wood structure.

I stepped up to the edge and gazed out at the world. Hundreds of feet below, the city spread out in all directions. Snow began to fall, and my view of the city began to darken while I waited.

Thunder crackled violently as I turned my gaze down into the abyss below. It seemed to stare back at me, calling me. I had a sudden urge to throw myself off the edge.

I hesitated, then at last took a shaky step forward.

My foot caught the smooth, supple rope and it sank a few feet.

I exhaled softly and extended my hands. I moved my other foot, and painstakingly put it in front.

I took one step at a time, only pausing very infrequently.

I slowly reached the halfway point and paused. The rope was sagging in the middle by quite a large distance, easily five or six feet.

The urge to jump returned, stronger than before.

I purged the thought from my mind and continued crossing.

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After several nerve-racking minutes passed, I was only fifteen feet away from the other airship. The airships drifted apart, pulling the line tighter, and raising me more in line with the deck of the ship.

I stepped closer, and closer. At last, I was only a few feet away from the airship. I suddenly wanted to leap the last few feet to safety, but that is when it is crucial to stay calm and take it slow.

I took a deep breath and exhaled slowly.

I inched my way along, closer and closer.

Seconds seemed to turn to minutes.

Finally! My foot touched down on the solid planks of the airship. Safe at last!

I exhaled a huge sigh of relief and collapsed onto the deck. My adrenaline was pumping and my mind was going a mile a minute.

“Cut the line.” a man ordered. Deckhands quickly and efficiently undid the knots and let loose the line strung between the two ships.

“That was intense,” I said, turning towards the captain. “You warned me about the call of the void, but I had no idea it could be this strong.”

“That was scary to watch,” he replied. “We are going down now, so just relax, we will be landing soon.”

The captain began to call orders to the people around him and the ship began to descend from the sky. We passed down through the fog and sped along towards the landing zone. I looked over the edge of the railing and saw red and orange landing lights, laying out the designated area.

Finally, the ship touched down, and some of the crewmates tossed ropes over the edge of the airship. The crew on the ground grabbed the ropes and quickly secured the ship in place. They placed a gangway next to the hull as the captain helped me to my feet.

“You did good lad,” he said, holding my shoulder. “Let’s go see the press.”

As expected, when I stepped off the ship, I was met with a sea of journalists. I breathed in, and smelled the distinct odor of victory, carried by the chilly breeze.