Swan Song

Choices

I can't get it out of my head. What's gonna happen? Is Keefe okay? Will they use the scroll before we can?

I shake the thoughts away. They were probably just trying to scare me. I see something move in the corner of my eye. Is that... Iggy? What is he doing here?

Iggy waddles up next to me and I smell the familiar stench.

Between his 2 teeth is... a knife?

A knife.

I can get out of here.

I squirm to get my cuffed hands close enough to reach the knife and slowly cut away at the ropes. I manage to get my arms free and then start on my ankles.

How did Iggy get here?

It was your Swan Song.

I take in a huge breath as I hear the familiar voice. The voice that I have always held ever so close to my heart. The voice I had betrayed. Fitz's hallucination is back again.

Fitz! Oh my gosh! We're gonna rescue you. We're gonna get the scroll and bring you back.

I know you will, Soph. I believe in you more than anything.

I can't help but grin ear to ear.

So Forkle sent Iggy with the keys?

Yes. Now hurry and get out of there before they realize you've gotten free.

Not without getting that scroll.

It's too dangerous right now. You don't have backup. I can bear it in here until you get your other friends to help.

No, I'm not leaving you. I'm gonna get that scroll as soon as possible.

Fitz sighs.

I guess I can't stop you, but I can tell you this. THe scroll is in the basement, and you need a password to get in the room, as well as get past 8-10 guards. It'll be challenging.

I take in a deep breath. I can do it.

I tiptoe out of my little room, eyeing the guards at the door. I smile. They're no match for my inflicting.

I channel my anger, every last bit into them. I almost laugh as they fall to the floor writhing in pain.

I sneak my way around into the basement and hide behind a wall.

And it suddenly hits me how important this very moment is. We're talking about the lives of so many people I love and care about, all in my hands. And...

For once in my life, I felt brave. I felt like I could succeed and save all that I loved. For once I was running towards the bad guys instead of away from them. I felt so free because I had come to an important realization. I was trying to save something so much more precious than my own life, something that I would give anything to save. If I failed at this, if I allowed my love, my lifeline, to perish... well let's just say I would be begging for death. Even though I deserved much, much worse.

My past choices may have been wrong, but this time I know. I chose right.