Chapter 21

Amanda came back to find Lynn snooping around the warehouse. Amanda watched as she was looking at the reverse bear trap and memories flooded her mind. She leaned against the wall and watched Lynn reach for a phone on a different table.

It doesn't work, Dummy. Amanda thought. Why would he have a phone in here? To order pizza?

Lynn screamed and jumped back when the reverse bear trap snapped. Amanda choked back a laugh. Lynn turned around and saw Amanda and jumped again.

"Amanda, if you really care about John, you won't let me do this to him." Lynn said. Amanda just stood with a smile on her face. "You're a smart woman, and you know what's right for him."

"I'm sorry." Amanda said. "I know it's hard to concentrate when you're surrounded by so many things you could kill me with. Like this ax I saw you lookin' at." Amanda picked up an ax from a nearby table and held it out to Lynn. "Take it, please, it's yours." Lynn starred at her as if to say, 'Are you insane?' "Come on." Amanda persuaded her. Lynn took the ax and looked at her. Amanda turned around with her hands in the air.

"I'd go for the neck, but I'm not the brain surgeon." She knew Lynn was hesitating. "Just do it quietly so John doesn't hear me die." She smiled to herself. "Otherwise he's likely to get upset, rip off his heart rate monitor. Boom." She felt Lynn's breathing become uneven and she tried not to laugh.

"Then you just have to find the senor and disarm it, so you can walk more than thirty feet out that door without the collar detonating." Amanda continued. "Or, you could try an take the collar off yourself. Mm, that could be tricky. Slightest knock in the wrong place, could trigger it." She turned and gave Lynn her best cocky smile.

"I should know, I built it." Lynn gave Amanda a sad look. Amanda took the ax from her and put it back on the table. She leaned against the wall and looked at her again.

"So, do you have everything you need?" Amanda asked.

"I have the instruments to cut someone open," Lynn said. "But I don't have the tools to save a life."

"You'd be surprised what tools can save a life." Amanda replied. She bent down and picked up the reverse bear trap and put it on the counter. Once Lynn went back to John's room, Amanda sat down on her bed.

"Hello, Amanda. You don't know me, but I most certainly know you." That's what John told her during her game. "There is only one key to open the device. It's in the stomach of your dead cellmate. Look around, Amanda and know that I am not playing. Live or die. Make your choice."

"Congratulations, you are still alive. Most people are so ungrateful to be alive. But not you. Now anymore." John's words echoed to her as if he'd just said them five minutes ago. She couldn't forget that day. Never.

She walked into John's room and sat down in a chair by the door.

"He made it through the freezer room," She said. "He tried to save her." She found herself crying. She got up and sat in a chair closer to John's. She longed for his closeness.

"There are somethings that I need you to do for me." John said. "In my desk…in the center drawer. An envelope, with your name on it."

"She's gonna do a procedure on you." Amanda explained. "Release the pressure on your brain, help with the headaches." Amanda leaned back in her chair and put her hand over her face. "I can't do this." She cried.

"Amanda… you can. You can." John said. "You're stronger now. And I believe in you." Amanda tried to smile to him. She tried to stay strong. And she knew her main concern was John. But she couldn't help but wish Hoffman were with her. She wished he were there. He was always strong, like a rock. He could've helped her through this. But part of her wanted him to stay away. Possibly so he wouldn't see her cry.

"You chose her cause she's the best right?" Amanda asked sadly.

"That's one reason I chose her." John replied with a smile.