Chapter eleven- Saving me
It was dark inside the room. Shaun narrowed her eyes to see better but gave up when there was no clarity. The silence was unnerving as she hesitantly treaded further past the threshold. Racetrack released her hand. She spun around plunging her arm into the darkness searching for him. "Race?" she whispered.
"I'll stay behind. Watch your back." he replied his voice barely audible. Nodding she faced forward stifling the fear that churned in her stomach. Slowly she walked straining to hear anything. All she could hear were her own footsteps. Was Racetrack really that quiet? She wondered pausing in what she assumed to be the middle of the room.
Feeling nervous she glanced over her shoulder prepared to speak again. It was then that the room was suddenly illuminated. Shaun's eyes widened when they rested on Manchester. He stood his arms crossed, a smile stretched across his face. Behind him the maid had her fingers resting on a lever. Shaun's gaze followed the wire until she saw the chandelier that was providing light.
"Finally." Manchester said. Shaun returned her gaze to the man who had hunted her. "Good job Miss Kenneth, you've discovered the end." He gestured behind him to another door. Smaller than the wooden one she had entered from with a set of brick steps. "Not many of my pawns reach this room, and if they do, I try one last time to kill them."
"I thought you were a man of your word." She stated surprised she had remembered his speech before she entered the maze.
"I think you know enough of my nature to understand I must always win." He uncrossed his arms and opened them as if to embrace her. "I can't have you all leave alive." Shaun saw what he meant and gasped.
Two figures stood on either side of him black sacks placed over their heads. She didn't have to ask to know who they were. "I thought I would give you and your friend a few days before I would make my move. When I traveled down into the lower level I saw you had left the boy defenseless." He chuckled moving towards the right. Draping his arms around the shoulders of the figure Shaun saw them tense. Muffled yelling could be heard from underneath the fabric. "Sleeping, he was unaware I had captured him until I brought him here. I know you'd come." Manchester's gaze pierced her as if he could see every bone, every vein, and every emotion. His grip tightened.
"A trap?" she croaked watching as Manchester danced toward the left to grasp the other individual.
"Something along those lines." He narrowed his eyes and she saw them scan the room behind her. Clenching her jaw she followed his line of sight and noticed the half behind them was shadowed. Racetrack she thought. "Where's the other?"
"He didn't come." Shaun hoped she was convincing.
"I'll get him too." Manchester raised his voice. Shaun shuddered at the thought. "So where were we dear?" She balled her hands into fists ignoring the dull pain of her nails cutting into her palm. "Effy would you be so kind to unveil our participants?" the maid Shaun recognized from earlier glided forward.
Her knobby fingers reached for the person on the left first. Shaun bit back the tears when Abigail's panicked eyes caught hers. She could tell she wanted to speak but the gag in her mouth restrained anything but muffled breaths. Shaun's chest rose and fell rapidly as she watched Effy reach for the second person.
The tears slid down her cheeks when she saw Spot's determined expression, his fiery eyes. "I think you can remove the gags as well." Effy obeyed making quick work of the knots. "Dear Miss Kenneth," Manchester began moving toward Abigail. He ran his fingers over her greasy hair. Shaun saw Abigail's eyes close in repulsion. Her entire body trembled causing the wooden box beneath her feet to shake.
"No," Shaun gasped wrenching her eyes up to the thick rope that was wrapped around her neck.
"Oh yes." Manchester beamed. "I wanted to make you suffer. And the fact you became so," he moved behind Abby wrapping his arms around her waist, resting his head on her shoulder. "Attached, to these two just made it so easy to devise a plan." Abigail released a loud sob.
"Shaun," she cried. "I'm so sorry." Manchester's laughter echoed about them.
"You're sorry dear?" Manchester questioned placing his fingers around her face. "Why you?"
"Let go of her!" Shaun screamed launching herself forward. Manchester placed his foot on Abigail's box and began to move it sideways. Abby shrieked at the movement. "No!" Shaun cried pausing mid step.
"Move any closer and I'll kill her." He turned to his maid. "Effy?" the old woman placed her own boot on Spot's box.
"What do you want?" Shaun asked her eyes fixated on the maid then Spot's rope.
"A choice Miss Kenneth." Manchester drawled returning to the middle of the two. "Either him," he pointed to the right. "Or her." He pointed to the left. "And whoever you choose leaves with you through that door."
"How do I know you're telling the truth?"
"I said I try to kill those that come to this room. This time I've made a game of it. Two for two." He waved his hand at the door that led back to the maze. "The other boy is down there somewhere. I can kill whoever you leave behind and him. I think it makes it even."
Shaun swallowed back the vomit. How could she choose between them? Her arms constricted around her stomach as she sank down on her knees. "You two can make your case on why she should choose you." Manchester chuckled watching amused. She didn't want to look at either of them. The silence dragged on as she stared at the floor and the red marks her nails had made in her palms. If she could choose…she thought wondering if there was an option c.
"Shaun." She jumped at the sound of his voice. "Stop bein' stupid. Get the girl and go." Swallowing hard she looked up and met his blue eyes. Gasping loudly she tried to stifle the weakness everyone could see.
There was no fear, no hate, in Spot's eyes just an acceptance that this was his end. Shaun griped her throat and watched him shaking her head. There was no life without Spot how could she find a way to climb those stairs if he wasn't already there? "What do you mean no?" he demanded his stubborn tone evident. "Get the hell up and get outta here. Stop wastin' everyone's time."
"Spot," she sobbed. "I can't let you die."
"Don't be my hero." He spat. Narrowing his eyes in her direction. "You have a complex with being needed. Get over it. Do the right thing."
"If you were in my place who would you choose?" Shaun screamed. "Huh? Tell me." Spot smirked.
"I'm not in your place."
"I already know what you'd do." Shaun whispered turning to Manchester. "What about me? I die and Spot and Abigail go free."
"No. Choose one."
"You're right." Spot sighed. "I'd say the same thing." He fidgeted with ropes that bound his hands behind his back. "Now will ya just let me die already." All Shaun was capable of doing was to watch him. Wait for him to show a normal emotion when his life hung in the balance, held by someone who had once been so ready to throw hers away. He never did.
"I know that look." Shaun grimaced at Abigail's husky voice. "I know that look very well." She allowed herself to hold Abigail's gaze this time. She was smiling through her tears her eyes were gentle and forgiving. Shaun looked away. "Spot's right Shaun. Make the choice already. You knew who you were going to pick even before Manchester removed the sacks."
"No Abby," she whispered.
"The thing Spot doesn't understand I do. Because as much as I hate to admit it I'd choose the same." Shaun jerked her face up her eyes widening in surprise. "When there's only one person you see no matter what it's hard to imagine not seeing them anymore. When you find that one person who is worth living for right?"
"What are you all talking about?" Spot yelled. "Just shut up, Shaun finally get a grip. Welcome to reality!"
"I forgive you." Abigail whispered nodding her approval. "I don't need to tell you what to say to Daniel, because you feel it now."
"Abby I'm so sorry."
"It's okay." Manchester kicked the box from underneath her boots. Shaun watched her legs dangle as Abigail struggled for breath. Of course he wouldn't make it the correct height to break her neck.
"I guess you're her choice Spot." Manchester smiled.
"You idiot!" Spot screamed. "Why the hell do you think I'm worth saving?" Shaun turned to him her expression full of pain and horror.
"Why did you think I was?" he stopped, watching Manchester cross the room and push Effy out the way.
"I just wanted to see what you'd do, but too bad I'm not a man of my word." He lifted his foot.
"No!" Shaun ran tackling Manchester. They tumbled to the ground rolling underneath Abigail's kicking feet. She gurgled as the rope continued to choke the life from her. Shaun tried not to sob as she shoved the man away from her. His hands entangled in her hair dragging her back.
"Shaun, dammit!" Spot called from behind them. Manchester snatched her arm bending it at an unnatural angle. Shaun gasped reaching forward and digging her nails into his face. He grunted flinging her away from him. Manchester was on his knees groaning as he touched the bloody gashes on his face. Shaun studied him only to find the handle of his gun sticking from his pocket. Diving for him she grabbed the pearl handle pulling it out and lifting it toward him. Manchester jumped up growling as he caught his breath.
"Smart Miss Kenneth, smart."
"Get Abby down." She demanded. Manchester shifted his eyes behind her and smirked.
"She's already dead." Refusing to turn she bit her lip to keep the hysteria down.
"Get Spot down."
"No." Shaun's hands shook. He was calling her bluff. Could she really pull this trigger? Just for a moment she looked down to cock it and it was then Manchester attacked.
"Shaun!" she could hear Spot once more his box shaking with his efforts to escape. "Make yourself useful you old hag and untie me!" Spot commanded.
"Only if my employer wishes it." Effy monotonously replied. Spot clenched his teeth.
"She made her decision let me go." He watched as Shaun struggled for power over the gun. Spot knew he'd kill her, Manchester would kill Shaun and he couldn't allow that. "Do something right for once. Ya know it's not okay that he's playing us like chess pieces in here!" her face softened. "Please," he pleaded as Manchester grabbed the pistol. "Please!" he cried. Effy made no move to release him and he watched helplessly as Manchester held the barrel to Shaun's forehead.
"You all fall down." Manchester sang she heard the eerie click as he prepared the gun. Shaun closed her eyes and prepared herself for death. She had no regrets.
"Spot, I- " she was unable to say it. Abruptly Manchester was knocked sideways the gun slid across the floor. Shaun sat up and stared in amazement at Racetrack. He held a large wooden board in his hand breathing heavily.
"Who started the party without me?" he asked flashing her a quick smile.
"Don't waste time ya idiots!" Spot said. "Get the gun." Shaun scrambled to her feet and ran toward it. She could hear Manchester fighting with Racetrack behind her. The sudden impact of stone floor made her realize she had been tripped. Effy calmly retrieved the gun and pointed it at her.
"Should I kill her?" she asked as Manchester gained the upper hand.
"Yes!" Manchester screamed as Racetrack punched his ribs and kicked him off.
"Okay."
BAM.
Shaun was reaching into the light struggling to find breath. She was relieved, ecstatic, hopeful as she moved further into the bright illumination.
"Hurry up!" they called for her. The fear someone was following them was still very much alive inside their hearts. And it would be for the rest of their lives. "Come on!"
"I'm trying!" she called back climbing the bricks. She saw a hand, the only thing she could see at that moment, the only thing that signified the past, the future, and what was going to help her out of the darkness she had been in for so long.
"Grab my hand, trust me." She clasped their warm fingers and felt them pull her the rest of the way up. Opening her eyes she smiled at the blue gaze that stared down at her. They wiped away the few splatters of blood that had painted her face. "I said we'd make it right?" she nodded. He pulled her close holding her tightly as if she'd disappear back through the door.
"Spot?" she questioned confused.
"I thought…" he trailed off burying his face in her hair. Of course it smelled of sweat, blood, sewers, and dirt, but she didn't pull away from him.
Shaun wasn't self conscious like she once had been. She could feel the confidence that Spot had given her swell within her heart as he breathed in her scent. For a moment Shaun had almost lost everything and now here she was with it all holding her close. To say for sure when she had fallen in love with him she wasn't certain. It could have been the day he kept her from jumping, or the day he found her in the maze, or the day she realized he knew exactly who she was without having to know her. Now it didn't matter. All that mattered was finding a way she could be with him. Inevitably she would have to see Mattie again, she would have to find Daniel Prescott, she would have to face her parents, and when that time came she would have a plan. But for now all she wanted was for them to be like this just for a little longer.
A/N: Do you guys want me to keep giving you song suggestions? I had another one for this one but I didn't know if it was annoying. Um So here ya'll go.
Switch: Yay I'm glad you liked it! :)
Joker: Yeah Race and Shaun make a good team! hope you enjoyed this chapter.
Scree: Usually in traumatic situations you make life long friends. And yay I'm glad you understood her weird dreams!
Lion: Aw I'm so glad you loved it! and I hope you enjoy this chapter.