Trapped and Poisoned!

"We'll suck the poison out!" You say as you frantically locate the small pinholes on your body.

Soo-yin is calmly inspecting the doors, testing for any movement or looking for a lip to grab onto. "That doesn't work Edward. Also, we were both hit in the torso so we can't even bind a limb to slow it down."

"Well...how old must this stuff be? There's no way the poison still works right?" You hope.

Soo-yin sighs, finding no way to pull on the door. She begins looking for levers or hidden switches. "Based on what I am feeling, I'd say it was still working."

She was right, you could feel the warm numbing effects slowly creeping through your bloodstream. The two of you search through every nook and cranny of the room. You even try to **** the stone doors. They don't budge, as solid as the walls themselves.

"I suspect the doors will open automatically." Soo-yin states. "Once the poison's had time to kill us."

"Don't say that, we're getting out of here." You say as you push yet again against the rock slab holding you in.

Your companion sits down with her back against the wall. She closes her eyes and takes a deep calming breath. She seems to have accepted the inevitable.

"Soo-yin, what are you doing? Get up!" You turn to her. "We'll get out of here...we'll save the girls..." Your hope was fading fast, the effects of the poison was now reaching your neck and arms. "We'll...we'll...we won't will we?" You slump down against the opposite wall from her, looking across to your best friend.

"I don't think so." She replies.

You sit in silence for a time, looking across at her. Her always calm and collected demeanor still there. You were happy she was with you in these final moments. Looking at her smooth still exotic face you are reminded just how pretty she was. It was something you rarely noticed, you just didn't think about her in that way. If this was the end you felt like there was no point dying in silence, leaving things unsaid.

"Soo-yin..." You begin.

"I know. You are happy I stayed and you are happy I am here." She says what you were about to.

"How did you know...?"

"You say it all the time. You just don't realize it." She says. "I appreciate it though."

"I'm...sorry to have dragged you all out here..." You apologize. "It's my fault we're going to die. I hope the others find another way."

"Listen Edward. We're all going to die. It's just a matter of when and how. The truth is that every minute I've had since you saved me back on that farm has been an extra minute I wouldn't have had without you." She is looking straight into you, her dark gaze not as placid and cold as usual. "I can honestly say the past year has been the best of my life. I have you to thank for that. So thank you."

The numbing was now reaching your nose, your toes, even your mind. You didn't know what to say in response. You wanted to tell her that you loved her, that she was your best friend, but the words just seemed so unnecessary. She knew it, you knew it, and saying it out loud might just make things awkward.

Instead you nod in acknowledgement and sit there quietly. You stare at each other, appreciating each other's company, and await the end. You hoped beyond hope that Natali and Caitlin could find a way home.