What if Chris didn't want to leave Ashley after their incident? What if he admitted there and then that he loved her? I don't have the script so I'm sorry that the dialogue is inaccurate.

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Chris opened his eyes, rolling his head back. He blinked a few times, his vision blurry, as if awaking from a long nap. Of course, waking up should be peaceful; in a bed, the sunlight streaming in through the window, perhaps - if you are lucky - the person you love next to you. But when Chris opened his eyes he was not in a bed. There was no sunlight - there was also no window in this room. But he had woken next to the person he loved, at least. there was Ashley; perfect, intelligent, funny Ashley.

Perfect, intelligent, funny Ashley, who was unconscious, tied to a chair and had a black eye.

"Ashley!" He exclaimed, suddenly aware of the straps bounding him to his own chair as well. Ashley stirred, her eyes fluttering open then flooding with fear as she strained in the chair.

"Chris? Oh god, Chris where are we?"

"I don't know, Ash. What happened to your face?" He asked, concerned.

"I don't know, I think he hit me," she said, tears filling her eyes. Chris felt his blood boil as he looked at her, covered in blood and bruises, crying. His heart beat ever faster in his chest like a drum calling him to war.

"I swear, when I get my fucking hands on him, I'll kill the son of a bitch!" Chris shouted, and he meant it.

"Oh now now Chris," the maniac's voice echoed throughout the room. "You've already taken a life tonight, made one hard decision. Are you ready for another?"

Chris looked down at the table, the gun placed just within his reach, intended for him. He grabbed it, prepared to use it as soon as the psycho revealed himself.

"If your life is the one I'm ending, I'm ready any moment, man."

"Oh no no no no, Christopher, you must have a difficult choice. I am not the one being punished here. No, your choice is simple; kill yourself, or kill Ashley."

"What the fuck?" Chris spluttered out, sitting up straight as his heart beat faster. Not Ashley again! Please, not Ashley. "No, no way."

"Kill yourself, or kill Ashley," the maniac repeated. "Or die together."

As he finished speaking lights turned on above the pair, two metal saws now visible. They started spinning, faster with every passing second, then began lowering. Ashley began screaming and sobbing, pleading to be spared.

"Ash!" Chris shouted, swallowing the lump building up in his throat. He was going to die... Oh god, he was going to die, miles from his parents, his home, his family. He was going to commit suicide, because how could he kill Ashley? He loved her; he had loved her for about 2 years now, never entertaining the thought of dating another. Ashley was his person. "Ashley!"

Her sobs subsided as she looked up at Chris, her terrified staring deeply into his, as if pleading. Pleadings or him to make it better, to get them both out, alive. But the saws were lowering, time short.

"Ashley, listen, I'm gonna get you out. I just... Jesus, I'm gonna get you safe, okay? Just... I need to say sorry."

"W-what?" Ashley questioned, puzzled and terrified.

His heart was beating erratically, and Chris was worried he'd have a heart attack before he could do the deed; if he did, would Ashley be spared?

"I just... I should've told you sooner. But I love you, Ash, I always have... Every second I spent with you was the only thing I ever wanted to do with my life! Every moment with you was all I wanted. And man, I should've kissed you, I should've told you this. But now it's too late, and if this is all I can do, this is what I will do."

"Chris - Chris, no," she suddenly replied, the sternness of her voice shocking Chris. "You saved me once already, let me save you this time. Please, let me do this, if it's the last thing I ever do; let me save you."

He stared at her, his eyes filling with tears he was unashamed of. If he was going to die, then damn it, he was going to cry about it. Ashley's offer appealed to him for a second; he imagined going back to his mum, hugging her, seeing his stupid little brother again, going to college, getting his dream job, getting married, having kids, a house, a car. But none of that could happen with Ashley; would that really be a life worth living?

No. The saws were close now, close enough to touch... He couldn't waste any more time. This was it. This was the end.

He stared at Ashley for one long moment, took a deep, last breath, and closed his eyes. As quickly as he could, he turned the gun on himself and pulled the trigger.

Live a good life, Ashley.