Changed by Time ✔

thirty-one.

0009 hours

She's insane, Wendy thought, trying to come up with some kind of plan. Any plan – anything was better than what Andrea was "suggesting."

"You don't like that? Oh well, you were always a picky child." Andrea pushed Abigail aside, causing her to fall off the rock and roll into the next one as she let out a muffle groan of pain. She stopped moving, clearly not dead but certainly not awake.

Wendy dove for the knife, snatching it up as Andrea swept down after it. Wendy held it away as Andrea gripped her wrist, attempting to twist it to force her to drop it. Andrea noticed that Wendy wasn't giving up so easily, knowing that if Andrea twisted just a little bit harder then her wrist would pop out of its socket.

Wendy could feel the pain in her wrist dissolving, growing more numb with each second. Andrea grabbed Wendy's neck with her free hand, tightening her grip as Wendy simply tightened her grip on the knife.

In a split second, Wendy reached up and punched Andrea right in the throat. She recoiled, holding her hands to her neck as she let out wheezing breaths, desperate to get a full breath in. Wendy took the moment to let the feeling come back into her wrist and decide what she wanted to do.

She could free Abigail and get the two of them out of there. Abigail certainly wouldn't be opposed to a temporary truce after everything that happened. Wendy could grab Nolan and light the dynamite up to take down the cave. That would mean leaving Andrea behind and possibly killing her in either the explosion or the collapse.

Wendy could also fight her mother and attempt to subdue her. It wouldn't be easy, but that could spare Andrea's life and save a few others. It would also mean that Wendy had the chance to get her mom back, getting her the help she needs.

I'm not confident that I can beat her. But if it means that I can save her, then I'm damn willing to try! Wendy threw the knife across the cave, listening as the metal clanked on the opposite end and echoed throughout the space.

Andrea watched as the metal glistened in the golden glow as it flew through the air. She slowly turned back to Wendy as she heard the echo, pulling her hands down to reveal the already-forming bruise on her neck.

"You just don't know when to stop, do you?!" Andrea slammed her metal-plated fist into Wendy's face, causing her to spin back and slam against the rock behind her.

Wendy was dazed for a moment as she turned back around. She leapt out of the way as Andrea came in for another hit, cracking the rock and sending bits and pieces from it flying with the force of her hit. Wendy tumbled once and got back onto her feet. She leapt onto one of the rocks, pushing off of it as she came back down onto Andrea.

She wrapped her arm around Andrea's torso, taking them both to the ground hard. Andrea let out a groan as she had the wind knocked out of her. Wendy bit her tongue, simply letting go and getting on top of Andrea.

Wendy pressed her knee onto Andrea's arm, holding it down. She used her other leg to hold her arm against her side. Wendy threw the first punch, causing Andrea to whip her head to the side. Her cheek was red and her nose began to bleed, blood squirting out against the side.

Wendy prepared to throw another punch, quickly realizing her mistake. She looked down at her fist, watching her reflection in the metal plates. She slowly pulled her fist away from Andrea's face.

Andrea turned back to face Wendy, scoffing as she asked, "Are you serious? I gave you those gloves for a reason. Use them, damn it!"

Wendy ripped off the gloves, throwing them aside as Andrea yelled, "Are you listening to me?! You're making a mis—" She was cut off as Wendy threw another punch.

Then another. 

And another. 

Another. 

Another. 

She kept hitting until she felt her knuckles split open and her blood began mixing with Andrea's.

Wendy watched as Andrea's head fell back against the gravel. Her left eye was swollen shut and her face was covered in cuts and bruises, blood pouring down her tan skin and onto the ground. She didn't feel good about what she did. Andrea didn't give her much of a choice otherwise.

Wendy stood up, wiping her hands against the jumpsuit as her blood continued dripping out of the fresh cuts. She stepped aside, beginning to walk over to Abigail as she reached down towards her sheath.

I'll let Nolan know that we can get out of here the second I have Abigail freed. I think he can probably help me get Mom and we can finally find a way out of here, she thought as her hand rested on the handle of her knife.

Her head jerked back as she felt a hand wrap itself in her tangled hair and pull. Wendy fell to the ground, Andrea swiping her knife from her sheath in a single swift movement. Wendy let out a grunt as she reached up, rubbing her head as it felt like a piece of her scalp had been ripped off.

Wendy watched through blurred vision as Andrea made her way over to Abigail, grabbing her by the hair as she pulled the beat-up girl to her feet. Abigail was barely in and out of consciousness at that point, her eyes fluttering as she attempting to keep herself awake. Or at least awake enough to do something – anything.

"I've had quite the adventure, haven't you?" Andrea pulled down the gag from Abigail's mouth, causing her to cough. Her mouth was dry and her lips were chapped, the taste of the dirty rag resonated in her mouth.

"Please..." Abigail mumbled, letting out a shallow breath.

"That's a surprise." Andrea tugged against her hair. "I thought operatives weren't supposed to beg for their lives."

Andrea plunged the knife into Abigail's side, causing her to let out an ear-shattering scream. Tears began to stream down the young woman's face as Andrea pulled the knife out, revealing it to be doused with blood.

Andrea readjusted her grip on Abigail as she continued to plead for her life, coughing out "Please. Don't do this," over and over again. Abigail let out another scream as Andrea plunged the knife a second time into her stomach, pulling it out again as Abigail's body began to fall limp.

Blood poured from her open wounds, causing her to cough as blood dripped from her dry lips. Her eyes fell shut as she no longer struggled. Andrea watched as the life with Abigail just oozed onto the ground around them.

"That was just as dramatic as I thought it would be." She looked at Abigail one last time. "You were always quite the performer."

Andrea threw Abigail downward, causing her to roll deeper into the cave. She left a trail of blood as her body tumbled further and further away. She eventually stopped as her body banged against one of the rocks, letting out a haunting thud.

"Now..." Andrea rubbed the blade against her side, cleaning off as much of the blood as she could. "Where's Nolan?"