seven || finney blake

15. loml

chapter 15
loml
"still alive, killing time at the cemetery."

finney grabbed the slab which covers the toilet and he began bashing it against the wall. they would take it in turns and would occasionally stop for some water, their only source being the toilet bowl. avery cringed at the thought, but drank some none the less. eventually, finney reached some metal. the two of them clawed at the broken concrete and found the panel that vance had been talking about.

finney took the rocket out of his pocket and attempted using it to twist the bolts off. but when that didn't work, avery rushed to the toilet and took one of the screws out. she bent down and twisted the bolts, loosening the metal panel.

the pair of them took it off and pushed the vent which blocked the way. inside of the freezer was a load of raw meat.

finney crawled inside and tried bashing the door through. but it was no use, it was clearly locked.

"finney." avery was on the verge of tears again, "finney! finney, stop. it's not working."

finney stopped, he crawled out and just cried. avery wrapped her arms around him and allowed her own tears to fall.

their last hope was useless. they were never getting out of this place. finney sobbed in avery's arms as they lost all hope.

the phone rang. the last call.

finney was the one to answer, avery just centimetres behind him, "what?" finney's voice was weak and full of doubt when he answered.

"hey, finn. hey, av. what's happening?" it was robin. avery's hand listed to her mouth as she listened more closely.

"robin?" finney stood up straighter, tears still falling from his eyes.

"hey, buddy. don't cry." finney was quick to wipe his tears.

"i'm not." he defended.

"yes, you are." robin said, "i can see you."

"you can?" finney asked as avery flashed him a sad smile.

"i'm with you. i've been with you this whole time." robin told them.

"you have?"

"a man never leaves a friend behind." avery smiled at robin's words, "my dad didn't leave his buddies behind when he went to 'Nam. that's why he didn't come home. and i'm not coming home, either. and i'm not going to leaving you behind."

"we'll all be together again soon." finney told him, his voice shaky.

"fuck that. you ain't gonna go like i did."

"we've tried everything. nothing's worked." both finney and avery felt like crying again.

"yet." robin corrected.

"robbin..." finney protested but his friend cut him off.

"do you remember what i told you?"

"that i need to see 'texas chainsaw massacre'?"

"before that."

"that someday i need to stand up for myself."

"'someday' is today, finn. today's the day you stop taking shit from anybody. and avery, you'll beside him when he does."

"i'm not a fighter like you, robin. you couldn't even take him."

"you've always been a fighter, finn. that's what we have in common, why we were friends. you were always afraid to throw a punch, but you always knew how to take one. and you always got back up every time."

"i'm not strong enough."

"you have to be. you and avery together, you can take him. you're getting out of here. if you can't do it for you, do it for me."

"what does it matter?"

"because i don't wanna die for nothing. i want to at least have dies for a friend. and because i can't kill that hijo de puta, you have to do it for me."

"how?"

"you're gonna use a weapon."

"what weapon?"

"the one in your hand."

"the phone?"

"fill the receiver with dirt. pack it in tight. give it some heft."

"then what?"

"then you practice over and over. you raise the phone. take a fast step back. step forward, step back and swing. try it."

"now?"

"Yes." as robin repeated the same steps, finney did the movements, mapping it out in his head, "again." this time finney put his all into it, actually following what robin was telling him.

they practiced two more times before finney brought the phone back to his ear, "you got it." robin congratulated, "now fill the phone with dirt. and avery, when finney gets the grabber down, take whatever weapon he has, only once he's dropped it, and use that if you need to."

"will we still be able to talk with you?" finney asked.

there was a beat of silence before robin answered, "this was the last call, finn. it's all you from here on out."

"i miss you robin." finney walked towards the wall, "avery does too."

"then do right by me." he replied, "get out of here."

"we will." finney promised his friend.

"bye, finn. bye, av." robin said for the last time.

and both finney and avery replied in a whisper, "bye, robin."

finney hung up the phone and cut the wire, digging up some dirt.

avery helped him pack it into the two receiver's before finney hit it lightly on his hand, testing out the weight of it.

he slammed it back onto the wall and found a screw, twisting it into another wall, tying the end of the phone chord to the screw. this meant of finney walked into the hallway of the bathroom, he would be able to trip the grabber up with the chord.

finney walked back to avery and wrapped his arms around her in a hug.

"we'll make it out, i promise." he whispered and she pulled away with a smile.

maybe they did have hope after all.