Cold water slammed against my face, yanking me from unconsciousness. I gasped, choking on my own breath as the icy shock jolted through my body. My eyes fluttered open, stinging, but the dim light of the cave made it hard to focus.

Turner's face loomed over me, his expression unreadable but his hand still gripping the plastic bottle he'd used. His voice broke through the fog in my mind, soft but laced with urgency.
"There you are, babes. I was starting to worry."

The chill seeped into my bones as I tried to push myself up, the dampness of my clothes clinging to my skin. My limbs felt heavy, my head pounding in time with my erratic heartbeat. I coughed, water trickling from my lips, and blinked again to clear my vision.

That's when I saw her.

Amber.

She was slumped in the corner, her body unnaturally still, head tilted at a strange angle. My brain struggled to process what I was seeing, to fit the pieces together. Her hair veiled most of her face, but there was something about her posture, the way her limbs lay limp and lifeless, that made my stomach churn.

"Amber?" I croaked, my voice raw and broken.

Turner crouched beside me, squeezing the plastic bottle and chucking it towards Ambers lifeless body "Shh," he said, his voice tender now, like a lover trying to soothe. "Don't upset yourself. It's better this way."

I couldn't look away from her. The longer I stared, the more wrong it felt. Her chest wasn't moving. I strained to see the faintest rise and fall, desperate for any sign of life, but there was none. Her hands were curled slightly, her fingers stiffened in a way that screamed finality.

"No," I whispered, shaking my head. "No, no, no..."

Turner's hand brushed my shoulder, his touch sending a fresh wave of revulsion through me.
"I didn't want to do it," he said, his voice cracking as though he were the victim. "She left me no choice. She was keeping you from me, Sam. All you were seeing was her when all you should be seeing is us"

I wrenched away from his touch, the movement sending a fresh wave of pain through my skull. My hand flew to the back of my head, fingers brushing against a sticky wetness. Blood.

"You killed her," I said, barely recognizing my own voice. It was a whisper, a gasp, the words trembling as they left my lips.

Turner's face twisted, a mixture of regret and defiance. "She made me do it," he insisted again leaning closer, his breath touching my face.

I couldn't breathe. My chest heaved, the air too thick to take in. "Amber..." My voice cracked as I tried to crawl toward her, but Turner's hand shot out, grabbing my arm with bruising force.

"Don't," he said sharply, his eyes narrowing. "You don't need to see her like that. Look at me, Sam." His tone softened, desperate now. "It's just us. It's always been us."

I wrenched my arm free, my body trembling as I dragged myself closer to Amber. My hands shook violently as I reached for her wrist, my fingers pressing against her skin.

No pulse.

The world tilted, and I clutched at her, my sobs breaking free as I got closer I got up onto my knees and shook her shoulders gently. but still nothing. 

Behind me, Turner sighed, the sound heavy with frustration. "She's dead! Sam, I crushed her fucking wind pipe" he spat spittle flying from his mouth the rage taking over.

I clung to Amber's lifeless body pulling her into my arms, my grief blurring everything else. But one thing became clear through the fog of despair.

I was going to kill him.

I clutched Amber's lifeless body, my hands trembling as anger and grief surged, colliding inside me like a storm. The weight of what he'd done pressed down, suffocating and unbearable. But I couldn't give in. Not now. He would pay for this. I'd make sure of it. But first, I had to survive.

I forced myself to release Amber, her limp body slipping from my trembling hands to rest against the cold stone. My tears blurred the jagged outline of the cave, but I didn't let myself look away from Turner. He stood a few feet away, his tall figure framed by the dim light filtering through the cave. His posture was calm, almost serene, his head tilted slightly, as though he was admiring me. Not Amber. Me.

"I'm so sorry you had to go through this," he said softly, his voice thick with what he probably thought was comfort. "I didn't want you to hurt, Sam. I hate seeing you like this." He crouched slowly, his knees creaking as he lowered himself closer to my level. "I love you. You know that, don't you?"

Bile rose in my throat, but I forced it down. My body felt frozen, each muscle locked in place, though my mind was racing, screaming for me to move, to act. I nodded slowly, swallowing hard.

"I know," I whispered, my voice shaking. "You've always been there for me."

His head dipped slightly, the movement almost shy, like he was basking in the acknowledgment. "I have. I've always taken care of you, even when you didn't realize it." His gaze softened, the fencing mask obscuring his features but failing to hide the sickening tenderness in his tone. "It's just us now, Sam. No one can take this from us."

I nodded again, forcing myself to stay calm. My heart was pounding so hard I thought it might crack my ribs. My eyes darted subtly around the cave, searching for anything—an opening, a weapon, a chance. Near the back wall, a narrow crevice caught my eye, a faint shimmer of daylight cutting through the oppressive darkness. My breath hitched. A way out.

"I just need a minute," I said, keeping my voice as steady as I could manage. "To say goodbye to her."

Turner's head tilted, his gloved hands flexing at his sides as he studied me. For a moment, I thought he might refuse. Then, he nodded slowly. "Of course, my love. Take all the time you need." His voice was soft, almost reverent, as though this were some sacred ritual. "I know how much she means to you. I understand."

I turned slightly, pretending to adjust Amber's body, but my focus stayed on the crevice. The faint light filtering through it felt like a lifeline, a thread of hope in the suffocating darkness. My hands clenched into fists, the cable ties biting into my skin as I prepared myself.

"You've been so strong," Turner murmured behind me. His voice wavered, thick with what he probably thought was admiration. "I've been waiting for this moment, Sam. For us. And now it's finally here."

"Take all the time you need. We have forever now." I nodded, my breath hitching as I shifted, angling my body closer to the crevice. It was small—too small for him to fit through, but I just might. I leaned down, brushing a hand over Amber's cold arm one last time, and whispered so quietly even I could barely hear the words.

"I'm going to have to leave you for a little while," I sniffled, using the back of my hand to wipe away my tears and snot. "I'll be back with help though, I promise." I squeezed her hand one last time, the cold stiffness of her skin sending a shiver down my spine. My heart thundered as I shifted my weight, inching closer to the crevice.

Turner hovered a few feet away, his eyes fixed on me with a mixture of adoration and suspicion. I could feel his gaze boring into me, but I kept my movements slow, deliberate.

"You've always been so strong," he said, his voice syrupy sweet. "Even now, with all this pain. That's one of the reasons I love you, Sam. You don't break easily."

I didn't respond. My throat felt like it was lined with razor blades, the words caught there threatening to slice me open. My fingers brushed the edge of the crevice, and I froze, glancing over my shoulder.

His smile widened, as if he'd caught me in the act of something shameful. "What are you doing, babes?"

"Just..." My voice cracked. I cleared my throat and tried again. "Just making sure I can... sit here properly."

His head tilted, his smile faltering slightly. He took a slow step forward, his boots crunching against the loose gravel of the cave floor.

"Sam," he said, his tone suddenly sharper, a thread of suspicion weaving through the words. "You're not thinking of leaving me, are you?"

I forced a weak smile, my hand curling into a fist against the stone. "Of course not. I wouldn't leave you, Turner."

The lie burned on my tongue, but it was enough to stall him. His face softened again, his body relaxing slightly.

Then, I moved.

My hand shot to the ground, fingers curling around a fistful of loose dirt and sharp gravel. With all the strength I could muster, I hurled it into his face. The mix of dirt and stones hit him square in the eyes, and he staggered back with a guttural cry, his hands clawing at his face.

"You bitch!" he roared, his voice echoing off the cave walls, guttural and enraged.

I didn't waste a second. I turned and lunged for the crevice, my hands gripping the rough edges as I shoved myself into the narrow gap. The stone pressed against my arms and legs, biting into my skin with each movement, but I forced myself forward. Behind me, Turner's voice erupted, his fury reverberating off the walls.

"Sam! Get back here!" His footsteps thundered closer, each one sending a jolt of panic through me.

The crevice felt impossibly tight, the jagged walls scraping against my sides as I wriggled through. My chest burned with every shallow breath, the faint light ahead pulling me forward like a lifeline.

Then I felt it—his hand grazing my ankle, fingers curling around my trainer.

A surge of adrenaline shot through me. I twisted and kicked back with everything I had, my heel connecting with his face. He let out a guttural cry, his grip faltering, and I scrambled forward, ignoring the sharp edges digging into my skin. My hands slipped on the slick stone, but I clawed my way through, desperate for freedom.

"You can't run from me, Samantha!" His voice, raw and guttural, carried through the narrow passage like a threat made flesh.

Every inch forward was a battle, the unforgiving rock slicing into my knees and arms. The crevice seemed to close in tighter with each movement, squeezing the air from my lungs. His snarls grew louder behind me, his rage palpable.

Then, just as I thought I couldn't go any farther, the walls widened. My fingers scraped against open air, and with one last desperate push, I tumbled out onto the forest floor.

 I scrambled to my feet, adrenaline surging.

I bolted forward, weaving through the dense forest as sunlight pierced through the canopy in scattered, blinding streaks. The uneven ground shifted beneath my trainers, roots snaking out like traps, but I pushed on. My lungs burned with every desperate breath, the daylight offering no comfort as the trees seemed to press closer, their shadows stretching unnaturally.

Behind me, his voice rang out again, cutting through the stillness like a blade.

"Sam! Don't make this harder than it needs to be!"

The calmness in his tone was worse than his rage. I could almost hear the sick smile in his words, the certainty that he would catch me.

I stumbled to a halt, my chest heaving. The forest stretched in every direction, its maze of trees identical and endless. Turning in frantic circles, I searched for some clue, some direction that would lead me to the road. But everything looked the same—the dense undergrowth, the sunlight glinting off damp bark, the endless expanse of green and brown.

My hands trembled as I gripped the rough bark of a tree, trying to calm my breathing, to think. That's when I remembered the phone in my trousers I slid my hands down and fished it out as I trudged forward my chest feeling tight from the exertion. 

I tapped the screen but I couldn't unlock it, there was a passcode my fingers trembled as I tried tapping the screen again, but then I pressed on the side button three times remembering the new update that will call the emergency services and send your location to your emergency contacts. I pressed the button three times as I slumped against the tree.

I had to move, I pulled away from the tree but the forest spinning around me in a dizzying blur.

Then I heard it.

"Sam..." His voice was soft now, almost playful, but it carried clearly, slicing through the daylight. I whipped around, my eyes darting between the trees.

"Sam!" he called again, louder this time, the sound closer—too close. "You're only making it worse for yourself."

My legs locked in place, fear rooting me to the spot. The sunlight glinted off something far away, but it was just a trick of the light—a flash that vanished as quickly as it appeared. My stomach twisted as the forest grew quieter, the silence a suffocating weight.

Then, his voice came again, sharper, more certain.

"I can see you."