"My ankle!" Ruby gaped in horror, tugging at the thick drapes taught around it. Skull Boy immediately dove underwater, desperately trying to yank her ankle free. With every pull, it's death grip on her ankle got tighter and tighter.
"(Gasp) do you have any (gasp) scissors or knives or something?" asked Skull Boy when he resurfaced, still trying to catch his breath.
"I don't know, maybe-" Ruby was cut of by a loud splash. They were surrounded by darkness, except for a dull, candle in a glass bulb above them.
"Well that's just great," Skull Boy muttered angrily. He quickly swam underwater for a little while and came back up. " Hey, I'm a pretty good swimmer...maybe I am related to a long line of scuba divers! But even scuba divers can't see in the dark..." Ruby couldn't help but laugh.
"Haha, I'll try," She submerged herself under water. Even though it was hopeless, they kept trying and trying to pry her ankle free, which didn't make a difference.
"Ruby, don't bother. It's pitch black down there and every time you come up for air, the knot gets even tighter," Skull Boy sighed. "But the water is rising fast, and if we can't get you free and you're head above water..." Skull Boy looked down. He could not bear to finish his sentence. Ruby gently raised his head up with her hand until their eyes met.
"Look on the bright side...we have this time now," She said with her soothing, optimistic tone. Skull Boy could still see tears in her pleading eyes. He took the hand on his face, and slowly pulled it down, holding it tight.
"Ruby...did you really mean all those things you said about me?" He asked. Ruby blushed madly, but then took a huge breath and answered.
"Of course I did." A small grin stretched across her face. Just then, a beautiful melody came from behind them.
"Near, far. Where ever you are I believe the heart will go on..." Misery sang softly in her unconscious state. It made tears begin to well up in Skull Boy's eyes. Ruby saw the moisture in his eyes, and so they slowly inched closer. And closer. And closer. Until...
GASP! Ruby sucked in as much air as she could while the water rose up to her nose. She moved her arms around to try to stay afloat, but the sharp pain from her fractured arm made it impossible. Skull Boy quickly understood and dove underwater and again, tried to loosen the knot, but only made it worse. He resurfaced, feeling complete despair and failure.
" (Gasp) Skull Boy, you can't waste your time (gasp) trying to save me. (Gasp) Try to find a way out for you and Misery," Ruby basically asked, no, begged for him to let her die and save himself. "I'll be (gasp) okay! Go Skull Boy!"
"No! I can't..."
"For me? Please promise, (gasp) for me, that you will go. (Gasp) This isn't the end. (Gasp) Promise me Skull Boy," Ruby cried, pleading. "I love you," she whispered. Then, she was engulfed by water. Tears were streaming down Skull Boys face, knowing there was nothing he could do now. He forced himself to go, she would never want him to die for her, even though he wanted to.
"Let it go, you have to do what she said," Skull Boy whispered to himself. He swam Misery on the mattress around and around, searching for a way out. "This is for you Ruby," he repeated over and over.
Soon, the water hit the ceiling, making the room pure black, except for that little light bulb, that still dimly shined. No, no, no, you promised,thought Skull Boy. At last, he and Misery squeezed through the broken window and out into the blue world. Determination ripped through him as he swam up with all his might to the surface before the oxygen-craving pain in his chest knocked him out.