I noticed color rising to her cheeks. And realization in her eyes that per plan had failed. I was right in my assumption that she had never in her dreams anticipated me to get out of my little cell and honestly, I couldn't believe it myself.

Was it really just luck?

I wasn't one to believe in fate or destiny but since meeting the Jedi healer, maybe it was possible that the Force was somehow involved. Who knew? But either way, it didn't matter. What mattered was the fact that I had made it this far and that I couldn't afford to mess it up.

"Back away from him." I said slowly, leveling the blaster in her direction, my finger hovering above the trigger.

"How the hell –"

"Shut up." I snapped at her with narrowed eyes. She would not talk. I wouldn't let her.

We circled one another. I deliberately passed the glowing blue screens and reached out for my comlink, letting it fall into the pocket of my coat. I walked behind Devon and with my free hand, I used the knife I had taken from the blond big guy and hurriedly undid the binds around Devon's wrists. I handed him the blade and let him get to work on his legs.

"You can't do this!"

"I told you to shut up!" I raised my voice just a fraction. The more that woman talked, the angrier I became.

Asya held up her hands, palms outward. "You won't get out of here, you know. You'll be dead before you reach the exit."

I knew she wasn't bluffing. Unlike Devon, she was a cold hearted witch. The moment we were out of her sight, she would call on all her goons and they'd stomp on us as if we were insects. I thought about forcing her to come along as a guide, so to speak. I had no idea where the exit was. The corridors looked the same to me and what if one of her men came our way? Would they interfere? Would they even care and kill all three of us?

Devon cut himself loose and took matters into his own hands. I watched with amazement as he stood from the chair and leveled a smoldering gaze on his sister. Even in such a dire situation, I couldn't help noticing how the muscles in his arms bulged when he fisted his hands at his sides. He was beautiful and perfect to me and there was no way in hell I was going to let Asya take him away from me.

There was a moment of tense silence as the siblings stared at each other. And then suddenly it was over so quickly, I blinked away confusion. Devon had moved fast, smashing a fist to the side of her head and she dropped to the floor just like that. I was shocked at first. But ultimately glad that she was down for the moment.

Devon recovered quickly and reached out for my hand. "Come on, we have to go."

I nodded and handed him the blaster, running back along the way I had come. We heard people coming, we rounded a corner so whoever was coming didn't see us. But then we heard the screams and the shouts and I knew that someone had found the body.

"Do you know the way out?" I asked urgently.

He nodded. "Yeah. It's not far. Stay close."

I had the feeling that he knew this place quite well, actually. Depending on his line of work before I knew him, maybe this had been some sort of base of operations. Maybe he'd tell me about it someday. If we made it out.

Which seemed not to be the case.

We ran as fast as we could. I tried to keep up with Devon as he led the way down a winding, ill smelling dimly lit corridor. But then he suddenly stopped and collided with his back. He held the blaster in both hands, pointing it at the disfigured man who had seemingly appeared out of nowhere. He was huge standing there with his hands in his pockets. He held a cigarra between his malformed thin lips while he smiled at us. His eyes twinkled as if he knew he would enjoy the coming minutes.

"Going somewhere?" He asked, drawing on the cigarra and puffing out sweet smelling smoke. I heard heavy footsteps from behind us and it was instantly clear that we weren't going anywhere. We were trapped, the only way out blocked by the monster that used to be human.

"You need to step out of the way." Devon said, firmly gripping the blaster. His knuckles were white as he leveled the weapon on the man's head.

"Or what? You gonna kill me?"

Devon shrugged nonchalantly, as if this were the most normal thing in the world. "The thought crossed my mind."

"You'd do that?" He asked mildly, reaching up to take the cigarra out of his mouth. She grey smoke twirled upward towards an air ventilation system humming in the background. "You'd blast me? We used to be friends, you know?"

"We used to be a lot of things. But things change. So get out of my way."

The footsteps were getting closer. We were running out of time. Once the others found us, we were goners, I just knew it.

"I can't do that." He smiled, his wrinkled and burned skin tight across his bones. "You still owe me, Dev, and tonight I'm here to collect."

"I owe you nothing. Move."

"You know, if you'd stayed back then, I wouldn't look like this." He gave me a quick glance. "Your girlfriend wouldn't be looking at me as if I were some sort of monster."

I swallowed back a reply and pounded the feeling of suddenly feeling sorry for him.

"We could have run this joint together, you and me. Instead I got stuck with your sister. She doesn't have half the backbone you do. You're fearless and cold. Merciless. That's what we need, Dev. I need you to come back."

"I'm warning you one last time, Kell." Devon said, unfazed by his words. "Move aside."

Realization dawned. This was Devon's old friend, the man he'd been friends with since they were teenage boys. Only a lot had changed and they were no longer the same people. Different lives, different priorities. One with the intent to kill, the other with the intent to live.

"No." Kell answered, his face going completely still.

Devon glanced towards me and I saw sadness in his eyes, deep rooted sadness that tore me apart. I felt my throat constrict as I tried not to cry. I was scared for him and for myself. I wanted us both to live. But what were the chances? Devon had a single blaster and men coming towards us were no doubt heavily armed.

"I need you to run." Devon whispered for only me to hear and I blinked, confused.

"Devon, I'm not –"

"You keep going straight from here on. There's a lift tube and then stairs. When you get to the surface, you run as fast as you can."

I couldn't believe what I was hearing. I was stunned, shocked.

"I won't leave you here." I said slowly, gripping his arm fiercely.

He smiled at me and I felt my heart skip. "I'll be right behind you."

He said it to make me feel better, I knew. To keep my hopes up but I knew better. He was planning on sacrificing himself to save me.

"Devon…" I trembled from head to toe, fighting back an onslaught of emotions I had no time to deal with. "I can't lose you."

"You won't." For a moment it seemed that time had stopped. It was only the two of us, staring at one another, oblivious to the fact that our lives were at stake. Then he turned away and grinned at Kell.

"See you in hell, you karking son-of-a-sith." He pulled the trigger once, twice. The brilliant red flash of light blinded me for a moment and I couldn't see what was happening. But I heard Devon's voice near my ear, pleading for me to run.

"Go, Marrim. I'll meet you top side."

"Devon –"

"Go!"

From the corner of my eye, I saw Kell holding his arm where the blaster bolts had caught him. He was sprawled on the floor, about to get up. From behind us, I saw the other men approaching. Staying there meant certain death. I looked at Devon one last time, hoping he knew how I felt for him. And then I ran like crazy.