He shut his eyes, but the world fluttered by until he hit the ground hard. Air bursting out of his lungs.

Mark coughed and rolled on his side, "What did you do?"

"What I had to..." Maria's voice echoed, not by a living room fireplace, but within dungeon walls.

Get the hell out of here ! She reiterated again, as if the first time didn't cause enough of a scene.

"What do you mean what I had to? Where am I?"

"You'll find out." She chuckled evilly and jabbed a button on the console.

Mark leapt at her but in a flash, she was gone.

Darkness engulfed him as the light of the console vanished.

“How did we …” Mark’s voice struggled.

“Shh… They’ll find us.” Maria whispered, her fingers searching Mark’s face and landing on his dry lips.

She wanted to explain so badly, to tell him everything - she wanted to numb his pain, make him smile. But she couldn’t.

“No, I am not going anywhere until we hash this out.” Mark was adamant. He wasn’t leaving despite her quietly desperate plea.

“Then you leave me no choice,” Maria replied her voice filled with resignation, “You should have left when you had the chance.”

“Oh but it will soon” she replied cracking an evil smile. He froze in terror. The look in her eyes was pure insanity. He couldn’t move. Before he could react, she came lunging at him, syringe in hand. That was the last thing he could remember.

Mark let his eyes scroll the room and finally they met with Maria ’s tear filled eyes.She came closer placing her lips upon his,her tears drenching his face as she mumbled”I love you. So,I had to do this.“ Suddenly a strong hand shoved her away from his grip.