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“Pull the lever to the left and they’ll be able to leave. But in exchange your oxygen will be sucked out completely. Pull the lever to the right and you’ll be able to save yourself but they will suffocate to death. Well.. what’ll it be, little rose?”
In all of her life, never have she thought this situation would happen to her. A choice between life and death; of saving yourself or others. Something that should have only happened in fiction, and yet, here she was, living through it at this exact moment in time.
“Time is ticking..” Kendricks drawled out slowly, her lips pulled back in a cruel smile as those piercing dark eyes stared at her, waiting for her to make a choice. “Three..”
She sucked in a breath, eyes widening as the full force of the situation hit her. Her heart started to beat erratically, breath short and quick, and she clenched her cold hands into fists. In the separate compartment, both Jones and Artem wear the same expression of shock, gaze trained at the lever and body tensed to act.
It was Jones that made the first move for the lever. He lunged at it with a desperation that only a dying man could achieve, expression frantic and a manic gleam in his eyes. Just before his fingers could graze the lever, Artem drove his fist into Jones’ midsection. The college student choked in pain as he was thrown back. Artem didn’t give him time to recover and immediately slammed him to the ground, pinning him in place.
“Rosa!” Artem yelled out above Jones’ frantic grunts. “Pull the lever and get out of here! Find officer Morgan, hurry!”
She started, “I-”
“Two.” Kendricks continued, glee now tainting her voice.
“Get away- I need to,” Jones struggled fiercely against Artem, trashing and clawing at any part of the lawyer he could get. Artem stayed steadfast, braving the desperate attacks even as nails scratched his skin and blood dripped down from his arms. “Get off me!”
“Rosa! Go!”
And it was at that moment that she realized; save Artem – and Jones -- or save herself? She had to choose, now.
Cold calmness washed over her. A small smile tugged at her lips. Honestly, Artem..
This wasn’t even a choice .
“One.” Kendricks’ countdown reached its end. Her voice rang heavily in the room. The weight of it crushing down on them and Rosa is vaguely reminded of a judge’s declaration. Of the resounding hit of gavel against wood, calling for order and finality. It made her want to laugh, suddenly. Even in a life and death situation the court still followed her.
“No!” Jones screamed out and fought back even harder but it had no effect on Artem as he continued to pin him down.
Just as Kendricks moved to press the remote in her hand, she moved.
A sudden burst of strength filled her. Her numb fingers clenched the lever in a tight grip. She ignored Jones’ cry or Kendricks’ hysterical laugh or even Artem’s clear blue eyes as he stared at her, warm with affection and care but also resigned.
Because of course he would choose her. Of course he believed that she would save herself. Of course he would place her above himself. That was just how Artem was. Her stupid, caring, and protective partner.
But Artem? Between you and me – there was never a question.
She braced herself. And before she pulled the lever, before she made her decision final, she grinned at him. “Bye bye, Artem.”
His eyes widened. Fear and disbelief marred his face in an instant. But before he could deny her, before he could make the decision himself, she slammed the lever to the left.
“NO!” Artem screamed as he leaped to bang at the glass. Inwardly she noted that she never heard him sound quite like that – scared and panicked and so desperate. His hands clawed at the lever, trying to pull it back into the opposite direction but by that time it was too late.
The reaction was near-instantaneous. The door to the other compartment opened with a hiss and in turn she immediately found it hard to breathe. The screen of her compartment showed the drastic decrease of oxygen and it was all she could do to gasp for one last breath before the oxygen level dropped to zero.
Her head started to ring. Her lungs were full of air at the moment but how long would it last? Dimly she noticed Jones racing out of the compartment, Artem close at his heels, and all the while Kendricks’ hysterical laugh gained a manic edge to it, surprise and disbelief coloring her voice.
“Are- are you serious!? You- you chose to save them? Those men who ran out with their tails between their legs? Those same men who left you to die without even sparing a glance at you?!” Kendricks screamed. Rosa wondered if maybe it wasn’t her that the older woman was seeing. That maybe she saw herself, instead, locked in this glass box like she had once been, those decades ago.
She didn’t say anything – not that she could, anyway. Her chest burned with the trapped air in her lungs. The ringing grew and she started to feel light-headed. Slowly, ever so slowly, she let out the breath she tried to hold in, and with it came fear and panic and acceptance.
Oh, she would die here.
The realization was not new. She knew of it the moment she chose to save Artem. But to actually experience it and understand, without a doubt, that her life was ending was..
Well, not like it mattered anymore.
She wandered, then, what would happen to her after? Where would she even go after dying? Would Artem be alright by himself, could he complete this case alone? Would Themis be alright? Oh there would be a lot of mess for the police and NXX to clean.
Ah, the NXX. She hadn’t contacted the rest of them again. Surely they would be mad at her for leaving so suddenly. And not even with a goodbye to boot.
I’m sorry, Luke. I’m sorry, Dr. Richter. I’m sorry, Marius.
Distantly she heard Kendricks and Jones struggling against each other, screaming hatefully at one another as they fought for dominance, but try as she might, she couldn’t hear the words. The only thing she could do was lay there on the cold hard glass, uselessly gasping for the non-existent air as she gripped at her chest that burnedburnedburned.
And..
The ringing overwhelmed any other noise now. The corners of her sight started to darken. She felt light; lighter than anything she’d ever feel before. She knew then that her consciousness was slipping. This was it.
The bright light of the compartment blinded her now. But somehow she found some comfort in it.
If she had the strength to, she would smile bitterly. To think her last sight would be of this place.
I’m sorry, Artem..
Just before the darkness claimed her – through the incessant ringing in her ears, she vaguely heard the sound of breaking glass.
I never did tell you that I-