A/N: Okay, I don't know how this chapter turned out. Let me know if you like it or not.
Robert had been walking for a short distance. He had finally collapsed and sat; his back leaning against the wall. He was still covered in her blood. The woman had died and he couldn't do anything to save her. She was just another failure. 'You can't save anyone. You never could. You are a failure' he thought to himself. He let his head fall against the wall. He couldn't shake the image of the saw cutting through the woman.
"I'm not a hero. A hero doesn't let someone die," he muttered. He thought of the comics he used to read as a child. He showed them to Winifred once. They stayed up late reading them. "Winnie," he said as his back stiffened. He glanced down the hallway. "At least your not here to watch me fail," he muttered mournfully.
He shook his head trying to clear his thoughts. 'There is always a way' the thought reoccurred to him. He had told that to Winnie once. Even if he didn't believe in it himself then and now, it was still a small comfort. Whoever had trapped him in this hell was right about his cowardice. He sighed and forced himself to stand. He knew he had to continue even if it killed him.
He continued walking down the hallway. He came to an open door. 'This is another damned obstacle. You'll get someone else killed'. He paused and felt himself wanting to continue down the hallway. He heard a loud scream. The person must have just awoken. The constant screaming unnerved him. 'You're in a position to help. You can't let another one die, not again'. He felt his feet grow heavier as he ran into the room.
He saw him sitting in the center. He was tied, rather chained, to a chair. The man was young, couldn't be no more than nineteen or twenty. His hair was neatly cut and his blue eyes stared at him in fear. Robert walked around him. There was a large blade stuck to the back of the chair. He saw the timer and the latch that held the blade down. He could hear the sounds of a ticker. 'Another condemned soul. There is no way I could possibly help you'.
"Who…who are you?" he finally asked.
"Robert," he replied faintly.
"Ro…Robert help me, please," he implored.
Robert saw the black tape recorder. He lifted it up and held his finger over the play button. This one had been easier to push. Either he was getting used to it, or he was losing himself to the game. He listened to the recording intently.
"Hello Robert. You passed the first test, congratulations," the voice was still menacingly deep. "Can you take a bullet to save another? This man is one of your co-workers and a friend to Alice Weathers. He is also a backstabber. He'd been helping his boss the entire time. He was sent to do all of his dirty work, including spying on you and Winifred. I leave the choice to save or kill him to you-make you're choice."
The recording ended. Robert dropped the recorder. He was working for Richard, Winifred's husband. An enemy had been placed before him. It was his choice to kill him or let him live. 'You can't make that choice, not in this situation'.
"I'm sorry about that man," the young man said in panic. "My name is Ryan. Please, I was trying to help Alice stop him. You know, stop the boss."
"You were going to betray me and Winifred," Robert responded.
He turned his head and saw a small box dangling from the ceiling. It had a gun inside and a key attached to a string. He knew that once the string was pulled the bullet would fire. He studied the aim of the bullet. It would either strike him or miss and hit Ryan. He sighed trying to sort through his emotions.
"No…no, no. I never wanted to betray you. I wasn't even going to tell him about you two."
Robert closed his eyes. He saw Winifred's face appear. She was happy once, happy with him. He shook his head. He glanced at Ryan and stared at him coldly. He walked around the chair. He recognized his face. He had done Richard's dirty work before. He had told on them before, and would most likely do it again. 'What it must feel like to be you. To hear the sound of your ticking death, and knowing the man you continuously betrayed holds your life in his hands'. He saw the sweat running down Ryan's face. The fear and panic showed easily.
"You told on us once before," he said. He moved closer to Ryan. Robert placed his hands on the arm rests for support. "Because you told, I got some men come and shoot at my house. That was a warning from Richard. Winifred got beaten for it. Her scars were hidden from view so no one would know. You gave him reason to hurt the woman I love."
"I'm sorry man. I didn't know," Ryan responded clearly terrified.
"Maybe next time you'll think before you act," Robert muttered. He took a step back and stood motionless.
"Wha…what are you doing?" Ryan asked.
"You can escape, but you have to do it on your own. I can't help you," Robert told him. He stood still waiting.
"Fuck you man!" Ryan shouted.
The timer clicked on. Ryan shook the chair violently. The chains still wrapped around him. Robert glanced at the glass box with a gun and a key inside. 'I can't be the hero. Not this time, not if I want to make out alive'. Ryan continued to scream, but Robert couldn't hear him. He only heard the sounds of Winifred's laughter.
Click…it was coming closer, any second now. Click…the sounds were frightening. Robert stared at Ryan in horror and excitement. Ryan continued to scream and struggle. Click…the latch was released. The
large blade raced forward. It crashed through Ryan's skull with ease. With one last scream Ryan died. Ryan's body twitched violently every so few seconds.
Robert had his arms folded. He stared at Ryan's dead body aghast at his actions. He had let him die without even tempting to help. Robert had let his emotions control him. His hands began to shake uncontrollably.
"You're a murderer now," he muttered. "The first was an accident, you tried. This time…you let him die. You're a murderer."
He stared at his blood covered hands. He knew the blood would never wash off. He took a few steps away from Ryan. 'What was you're last thought' Robert asked himself. 'What were you thinking as the blade rushed towards your head'? He turned around and made his way out of the room. He knew he had to press on; he had to survive and get to Winnie. He had to tell her how much he loved her-there was no other option.
