Don't kill me when I say this, but we are almost at the end. Well, not the end. But close to the end. I think there will be at least three more chapters.

Keeping it short and snappy. It is all leading up to something.

Enjoy :)

Eric runs his hand over her knee, pressing her legs closer to his body. She smiles sadly, resting her head on his shoulder.

The court hearing has been concluded twenty minutes ago. And to nobody's surprise, it went horribly wrong. Execution is in order. There is no escape.

He has murdered too many people. Ruined too many families. His downfall was destined to happen. Tris didn't believe it. She still doesn't.

Small droplets of rain spit onto her bare arms from outside. This cell is barbaric. Even its window consists of metallic bars. It doesn't protect the people inside from the wind and rain and in the winter season: snow.

Eric sees goose bumps on Tris' arms and inevitably rubs them away. She wonders how it is possible for somebody to be so warm in these conditions. His eyes run over her face, desperate for her to say something. Anything.

They intertwine their fingers together, the mattress getting colder beneath them. Tris presses her body against his, one of her arms going around his torso.

They said that the execution will take place in two days. They have two days together.

"I'm not gonna let them do it," Tris whispers, making sure that the guards on the other side of the metal bars cannot hear a word.

"I know," Eric answers plainly, like he is only saying that for her benefit. Like deep down, he does not believe her.

"I'm serious," their eyes lock, "I'm getting you out of here."

"How?"

"I'll think of something," Tris murmurs, looking down at how his strong hand circles her knee.

She was fighting for his freedom in the courts. She told the judge everything she knew: from how he was forced into this war to how much he had to sacrifice for the sake of his family. Pride and all. Those statements were not deemed concrete and therefore Tris was excused even before the court has finished debating. She told them everything. And nothing was ever enough. And now Eric has to face death. 48 hours from now.

But there must be another way out. And if there isn't, Tris will create a way out. She would do anything by this point.

"Tris, some things can't be helped-"

"Why are you okay with this?" she laughs suddenly, shaking her head, "They are going to kill you."

He doesn't reply at first. He just stares into the distance. For a moment, Tris wants to join him but obviously there is nothing to stare at. Just the cell wall, "What do you propose?"

She glances at Bert, who is pacing the floor with his big gun. Getting past him would not be a problem. The man is as thick as a nail. It's what lies beyond these cells that is the real problem.

"I'll think of something," she repeats. Eric nods slowly. He doesn't want to die. He's just worried about what would happen to her if he did.

They stay in a passionate embrace for a while. And with every minute that passes by, Tris' arms start becoming slacker. They slide down his shoulders and past his torso. With a soft thud, her arms land onto the cell's bed. Eric thinks that she got tired of holding onto him, and he wouldn't blame her. But when he pulls away, her eyes are closed and her soft breathing skims his shoulder.

He leans down to plant a kiss on her forehead. The stubble growing out around his jawbone highlights the stress of the past few weeks. So much has happened. And he hasn't had any time to shave.

He cradles her in his lap, allowing his gentle rocking to lull her into a deep sleep. When Bert taps on the metal bars, Eric almost loses it.

"Time's up," Bert pipes up cheerfully, his stupid voice way too loud. It doesn't startle Tris in the slightest. She continues to sleep.

Eric looks up at the guard, giving him a long glare, "Piss off."

"Do you want me to zap you?" Bert holds up a taser, his bushy eyebrows raised almost to the top of his receding hairline.

"Do you want me to cut your fucking head off?" Eric growls, tightening his grip on the girl.

After about two seconds of pondering, Bert turns around and leaves. Probably to get help or something. Eric doesn't care. As long as Tris is here, and he is there with her, everything they do to hurt him will ricochet onto her.

Please review and tell me what you thought :)