I don’t know what to say to this surprising act of honor, but it doesn’t seem to matter that I have no words.
In the darkness, even in the midst of the smoke, I’m suddenly made aware of Seven’s proximity as hints of warm leather and cologne waft around me.
Seven takes my face in his hands and presses his lips to mine. The kiss is passionate but brief, and somehow says everything neither of us can seem to find the words to say.
He doesn’t expect to see me again. He doesn’t expect to survive.
“Now, go. Find Luci, he’ll help you get to safety.”
Before the words have even faded from my ears, Seven is gone.
I only allow myself a few seconds to panic before I kick myself into high gear. Keeping my hand pressed to the wall, I run.
Unable to see, I trip over myself as the floor suddenly starts sloping up. The keys go flying out of my hand, and I spend several terrified minutes sweeping my hands all over the corridor until my fingers close over them again.
Getting to my feet, I feel for the wall only to realize I have no idea which way I’m supposed to go after my fall … until common sense momentarily returns to me, and I check for the slope of the floor.
Setting off once again, I move at a slower pace, my other hand outstretch in front of me and my feet feeling for any unexpected changes in footing. Thankfully, I don’t trip again, though I have several close calls.
The thick has gotten so thick that I’m forced drop lower in order to breath. If I don’t get out of here soon, I’m going to suffocate.
All of the sudden, my outstretched hand collides with a wall. Hope rises in my chest as I feel along the new length of wall, but I don’t feel anything that resembles a door, let alone a keyhole.
No, no, no. This can’t be happening.
Did Seven forget to mention something, or did he purposefully send me to my death?
I step back as I the hope dies in my chest and tears burn my already stinging eyes. My back touches something, and I scream as I whirl on it.
Whatever it is, it doesn’t react or reach for me. My heart still pounding in my chest, I tentatively reach out toward it, flinching as my fingers brush against it.
It’s wood.
I step closer, running my hand along it until I realize it’s a ladder. Placing the ring of keys between my teeth, I grab one of the rungs and pull myself up as quickly as I can, which isn’t very fast.
I’m exhausted, and coughing on smoke when I finally reach the top. Hooking my arm around the rungs, I run my hand along the ceiling until I feel what seems to be a keyhole.
Taking the keys from my mouth, I force myself to remain calm even as my whole body shakes. I cannot drop them. I barely have the strength to hang on as it is.
All the keys feel the same in the dark.
Groaning in frustration, I just start trying them until one finally slips in and turns.
I hear a series of thunderous clicks, and have to cling to the ladder as the tunnel shakes and bits of something rain down all round me.
As soon as things settle, I climb the last few runs to brace myself against door. Taking as deep a breath as I can manage, I use every last bit of my strength to shove it open.
Tossing the keys out first, I pull myself out of the tunnel and into the smokey air of what appears to be some sort of overgrown garden. The last remnants of sunlight are setting over the far horizon, only furthering the dystopian look of everything as the hazy smoke glows orange.
I crawl a few feet away from the hole in the ground before collapsing against it to catch my breath. The ground shakes, and I turn to look toward the house just as several window panes explode.
My eyes widen as I watch the flames engulf the entire mansion as they rise high into the darkening sky. I’ve never seen anything like it.
As I stare at the burning mansion, I’m suddenly reminded of the darkroom and all the evidence inside as it no doubt crumbles to ash alongside my single photo hidden in the bag of adult diapers … and then it dawns on me that this is my chance to escape.
Scrambling to my feet, I turn my back to the mansion before spinning around and hurrying back over to the tunnel.
“I’m sorry,” I whisper under my breath, as though that is supposed to make what I’m about to any better.
Grunting, I throw my body against the door until it finally closes. Now shut, the entrance to the tunnel is impossible to see.
At least I won’t need evidence if there’s no one alive for the police to arrest, right?
Satisfied that I’ve covered my bases, I push the guilt aside as I turn and race off across the rolling fields, my eyes set on the forest beyond.