When Elizabeth failed to respond to Teyla's call, John felt his worry from earlier come back with a vengeance. "Elizabeth?" He tried to keep the urgency out of his voice but failed miserably.
When it came, her whispered reply was so soft he almost didn't catch it. "There's something else in here."
His heart seized. "Rodney, we need to get in there now! Elizabeth's got company!"
McKay glanced up from his pile of translations and scientific instruments. "What? You mean there's something alive in there? That doesn't make any sense; I mean I don't see how something could have gotten in…"
"Rodney!" Sheppard growled, losing the last of his patience.
"Oh, well I'm sorry, I'll just pick up the pace a little," the scientist shot back, "Considering the fact that we have no way in and nothing to go on, I'm sure you yelling will help me come up with a solution faster."
For a fraction of a second John felt like hitting him. Teyla must have seen it in his eyes because she stepped in between him and the astrophysicist. "Dr. McKay is doing his best to help," she attempted to pacify him.
John nodded almost imperceptively and opened the hands he hadn't even known were clenched. Catching his eye, Teyla added sympathetically, "Dr. Weir is very resourceful; I am sure she will be all right."
John felt anything but reassured, but knew his options were pretty limited. The device that had transported Elizabeth inside wasn't functioning, the Daedalus and its handy beaming technology were located elsewhere in the galaxy helping with an evacuation, and he wasn't ready to resort to C4 yet, not after hearing McKay's warning about the potential consequences of its use. So there was really only one choice: manual labor. He turned toward the former Runner. "Ronon, I want you and Teyla to hike back to the jumper and contact Atlantis. Let them know the situation and tell them to send a couple of teams over here with any kind of tool that could be used to cut, smash, or grind through stone."
John paused, an internal struggle taking place, then came to a decision, "And tell them to bring C4, just in case."
After they departed, he sagged against the wall, debating whether or not to try to contact Elizabeth. He wanted to make sure she was all right, but breaking radio silence might put her in danger if she wasn't already. Realizing that the only good that would come out of the risking contact was his reassurance of her wellbeing, John opted not to try and reach her. He didn't like it, but there was no way he was going to jeopardize her safety just to make himself feel better.
"We're all worried about her you know," McKay's voice cut into his thoughts
John glanced over to where Rodney was diligently scribbling notes. "I know that."
McKay scoffed but didn't say anything. John sighed, his mind once again turning to thoughts of Elizabeth, her silvery laughter and expressive halcyon eyes. He hoped she was okay; he needed her to be okay, but all he could do was wait.
He had never felt so helpless before in his life.
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
Elizabeth's heart was beating so furiously that she was surprised the sound wasn't echoing off of the walls. The blood was rushing in her ears as she attempted to quell the fear that threatened to overwhelm her. She was crouched in the corner, desperately trying to make herself invisible. She'd thought briefly about running, but the prospect of leaving the room in which was probably her only means of getting out of this place didn't hold much appeal. Then there was the passage on the wall that Rodney had translated, something about a labyrinth, and she wasn't too keen on getting lost in a maze. So, she was waiting, every muscle in her body taut, listening to the steady clopping of hooves coming her way. The sound itself threw her for a loop. She couldn't for the life of her figure out what could be making it, unless there was a horse in there for some reason. Maybe this structure was just a stable where the Ancients kept their polo ponies. She barked out a laugh then clapped a hand over her mouth in horror. Oh man, I'm losing it, she thought wildly, Get a grip Elizabeth!
Suddenly the cause of the noise rounded the corner and stood in the archway. Elizabeth's mouth dropped open in shock. In this case it seemed reality was stranger than anything her imagination could have conjured up. The enormous creature that had just entered the room had the legs and torso of a man, but sitting atop its broad shoulders was the head of a bull. Cleft hooves the size of dinner plates extended from heavily muscled calves and tattered rags covered much of the monstrosity's shaggy body.
At that moment Elizabeth found herself extremely happy that John had evidently realized the severity of her situation and wasn't trying to contact her again. Her mind was reeling but she kept absolutely still as the amalgamation of human and animal took a few steps forward and swung its massive head around, clearly searching for her. It raised its huge nostrils into the air and sniffed, then started walking again, heading for her corner. It had reached the middle of the room when its eyes met hers, and Elizabeth realized she was going to have to make a run for it after all. The creature stamped its hooves and bellowed, then rushed at her. She bolted, scrambling from her insecure hiding place and running as fast as she could for the corridor nearest her. As she came to the first fork in the path she punched on her radio, "John?"
He replied instantly, "Elizabeth, what's going on? Are you safe?"
Breathing hard she turned another corner, angry roaring filling the hall behind her. "It's a minotaur."
This time he took longer to respond. "A what?" he sounded like she had hit him over the back of the head with a heavy object.
"Yes I know." The creature was gaining on her, and her attempts to lose it around various turns were proving futile.
"Tell Rodney I had to leave the room." She gasped as she sucked in some much needed air, "Apparently it's not very friendly."
Her lungs were starting to burn, but the adrenaline coursing through her veins was more than enough to keep her going. If she faltered she was going to die, it was as simple as that.
"Elizabeth….just hang on okay? I, we'll get you out," John faltered, voice thick with fear and apprehension.
Elizabeth appreciated the thought, but she knew without a doubt that there was no way they would be able to reach her in time, even if the transportation device was working; and she knew John knew it too. She put on a burst of speed as she swerved to the left down another corridor, right into a dead end. Struggling for breath she closed her eyes. This is it. The Minotaur couldn't be far behind. "John? I….reached…a dead….a dead end." She panted as she started walking the last few feet to the wall.
Just then the Minotaur rounded the corner, snorting and angry.
"Elizabeth!" His voice was filled with alarm.
The ground beneath her feet shook as the Minotaur approached, eyes gleaming in triumph. Her hand brushed the wall behind her and terror set in. She was trapped and she was going to die.
"Goodbye John." She whispered sadly.
Suddenly a crack appeared in the floor, then another and another, an intricate spider web of faults forming around her feet. Her last thought before the ground gave way was, At least this is better than being gored, and then she knew no more.
