The Final Hour

Chapter 17

The darkness is almost overwhelming-thick and cold. Days ago, it would have given me the creeps.
Not today.
I've lost track of how many days I've been locked down here. 5? 6? I don't know. And to be honest, I'm not sure if I want to.
Kaone and I don't talk much. The occasional word to tell each other that we're alive, but that's it. I feel awful about the fact that it's because of my mistakes, she could very well die. How do you apologize for that? You can't. But I can make it right, by trying to get her out of here alive.
The problem being, is that I have no clue how I'm going to do that.
The realization hits me like a tidal wave.
I have nothing.
Everything I've ever done has been apart of a plan. From stealing a cookie, to battling armies-everything fits into place like a jigsaw puzzle. But this time, there is absolutely nothing I can do.

I've only ever felt like this twice before. The first time, when I left my everything and accidentally became Lynx. After my mother came and found me when I was 11, I had felt a sense of relief. It was over. But she had told me that I had to stay lost-that I couldn't return to the castle. After she left, I felt completely lost. The second time was when Laura died.
I got through both of those times-surely I can figure something out right?

Renewed with determination, I glare at the stifling darkness.
I am busting out of here.

As if on cue, I hear footsteps on the stairwell. Good-they must be bringing down food and water. I don't remember the last time I ate anything. What wouldn't I give for a meal at my palace right now.

All of a sudden, I hear commotion-shouts, the clanging of keys, grunts. But unfortunately, a thick blindfold covers my eyes, making it impossible to see at all.
I hear the doors to my cell clang shut, and the shouts getting quiet-distant.

Then it's completely silent.

I'm going to get kidnapped, and there's nothing I can do.

"Whoever you are, you better stay away. I'm armed." I growl, using the most menacing voice I can.

I hear a soft chuckle. Then rough hands on my face, pushing the blindfold away from my eyes. I wince at the soft light illuminating the cavern. A candle lies on its side on the far side of my cell. I see Kaone lying motionless against the opposing wall. For the first time, I see the extent of her injuries-dried blood cascading down the side of her head, and one arm is bent at a awkward angle. She looks awful. Then again, I probably don't look like a angel right now either.

I shift my gaze back onto my kidnapper/saviour.
Its Derrin.
A thousand emotions sweep through my body. Relief, anger, excitement, hope, sadness-everything. I'm not sure if I should slap him, or hug him.
Derrin obviously has no such qualms. He wraps his arms around me tightly.

After days alone in the dark, with no physical contact from anybody, a hug is the most valuable gift I have received. Knowing somebody else is here for me makes me feel a billion times better.

I break away from the embrace, and study Derrin's face. He has a long cut on the side of his cheekbone, and a small bruise on his temple, but his green eyes are sparkling with life and happiness.

"If my hands were free, then I would slap you. What are you doing?" I ask-my voice raspy.

He shrugs his shoulders nonchalantly.

"I could ask you the same question. That letter? It was a death note! What did you expect me to do?" Derrin asks, his voice a mixture of sadness, annoyance, and something else I can't quite place.

"I'm sorry that I care too much to let you guys die!" I say, frustrated.

Derrin's arms tighten around my waist, where they were resting loosely.

"You promised not to! You have no idea .... When I read that letter......I thought I lost you.." His voice cracks emotionally.

Immediately all of my anger vanishes. I see from Derrin's perspective-the pain, the fear, the anguish.

"I'm sorry." I whisper, staring at the floor. I don't want to look at him and see the hurt I must have caused.

Why can't I ever do anything right!?

I feel a hand under my chin, lifting my face so I'm looking him in the eyes.

"What matters now is that we're both alive. We're here together." He murmurs.

I look at him intently-a wave of happiness rushing through me. He's right. He's here with me.

In a second, his lips are gently brushing against mine, or maybe the other way around. I don't care. Fireworks burst in my chest as I smile into the kiss. It's sounds cheesy, but it-this strange feeling inside of me feels right. I forget about Gai, Artol, my imminent death-everything except for the way I'm feeling right now. The rational part of me says that I'm crazy. That I shouldn't be busy kissing my best friend instead of figuring out how to stay alive.
But for once, I don't care about a stupid plan. I just want this moment to last forever.

But obviously it can't. I have to breathe eventually.
I pull away slowly, keeping my eyes closed for a moment longer. When I do open them, Derrin is smiling brightly.

"I've wanted to do that for a long time." He mutters. I laugh quietly.

"Me too." I murmur.

I find myself slowly leaning in. I feel that strange ecstasy swell in my chest, and can't help but grin in anticipation.
But before I have the chance to kiss him again, guards enter the cell, and throw us away from another. My head hits the wall, and I temporarily black out. When I come to again, Derrin is grinning goofily, as the shackles holding me to the wall, drop to the floor. I stretch my arms, wincing at the sharp pain.

"How-" I begin to question, but Derrin holds up a shining silver key, laughing.

I roll my eyes, but I'm laughing too. He steps towards me, and hugs me tightly to him once again. I loop my arms around his neck, and rest my forehead on his shoulder.

"I missed you." He says seriously, all traces of laughter gone from his voice.

"So did I." I whisper.

In the silence that follows, I can't but marvel about how lucky I am-having somebody that cares about me so much they are willing to be imprisoned and die for me.

Maybe I'm not a total screw up at everything after all.

A/N
It finally happened!!! To everybody that was as uncomfortable with reading it as I was writing it, well, I'm sorry. But never fear! The fluff chapters are over. Now onto the climax. 😄
As always-thanks for reading! I hope you enjoyed! You guys are incredible!