-A month later-

-Lacey's POV-

Me and Axel have been getting really close, and I think... I think I like him. I know it's weird; to like the son of the person who has been starving you and keeping you prisoner. But I think he has the same feelings... We've talked every night since he told me about him not wanting to follow in his father footsteps. We even talk to Oliver for awhile until he falls asleep. He's young so I can understand how he needs his sleep. Today we're playing a game to pass the time. He introduced it to me as 'Would You Rather'. I had never played it before, so I thought 'Why not?' "Would you rather eat a rotten pork chop or rotten steak?" I cringed and laughed as he asked me. "Seriously?! Okay, um... Probably the pork chop because I never would want to eat a steak that's gotten rotten. Just because I like steak so much!" We both laugh. "Okay your turn." He says. I think for a moment. "Would you rather blow a raspberry really really loud in a crowd and not have anybody tell it was you, or kiss your crush on the lips?" He blushed a little and a smile played along his lips. "I don't know... They both sound fun..." He said with a little fun in his voice. I chuckled and shook my head. "You've gotta pick one!" I say playfully. We both laugh and as we settled down from the laughing fit, he told me his answer. "I'd rather kiss you on the lips." He shakes his head relentlessly. "I didn't mean that! I mean I kind of mean it but not like that! I didn't-" "It's okay!" I interrupt him. "If you like me, that's okay. I kind of feel the same way..." I trail off, looking at him with hope. He blinks and smiles a bit, then nods. "I... I do like you. I just wish..." "That I wasn't stuck in here?" I ask, knowing that he wants to say it, too. He nods and looks down. But then he looks up at me again with wide eyes. "Maybe I can get you out of here!" He says with a whisper. I shake my head. "But this place is full of security! If your dad doesn't get us, the skeletons will!" I look past him at sleeping Oliver. "And we can't leave Oliver either." Axel looks back at Oliver then back at me. "We'll take him with us! It'll be a little harder, but if you carry him, then I can lead us out of here!" I smile. "You mean... I can get out of here... With you and Oliver?" Axel nods and takes my hand through the bars. "It'll only take an hour or two to map out the shortest way towards the Overworld portal. And... I don't want to just hold hands for the rest of your life. I want a hug that will last us both of our lives. You won't last much longer in here..." A happy tear comes down my cheek. "Axel, if we can pull this off, you'll make me the happiest girl in the world!" We both smile and we get up from the floor. "I will make sure you are the happiest girl in the world when we get out of here." And with that, he runs off. Happy tears come down my face. 'I'm going to get out of here!' I think. 'I'm going to finally get out of here!'