Swallow your anxiety, push it down, push it down. Sasha told herself this as she took deep breaths in and out, swallowing her anger, swallowing the lump in her throat, holding back her tears.

“You don’t have to talk to him.” Said Leo, trying to comfort her.

“If I don’t, then I’m the weak one. I’m the coward. I can’t let myself be that. He’s the coward.” She answered, hatred filling her every word. Leo bit his lip.

“Okay. Just… give him a chance. He’s sorry, he’s admitted that already.” Sasha laughed darkly.

“I’m sure he’s sorry. He should be. But that doesn’t mean I have to forgive him.” Leo stood and looked down at Sasha in her chair, the dim light of the room making it seem like a prison cell. He walked over to the door, opened it and left the room. He would be back any minute, with the traitor at his side. The horrible, ugly, disgusting traitor she hadn’t seen in years. She was positive he was sorry for what he’d done. But that wasn’t enough for her. She heard footsteps enter and looked up at the door. Standing in the doorway, next to Leo, was… Snakes. He had grown even taller than the last time she had seen him, his piercing blue eyes gazing at her with despair. His thin lips quivered, and he ran his fingers through his white blond hair nervously. He was still handsome, maybe even more so than he had been.

Hidden longing filled Sasha’s heart and she wanted to envelop him in a hug and forgive him. But her anger would not be so easily pushed aside.

“Hey, mate.” Said Snakes, trying at a smile.

“Nigel.” Said Sasha bitterly. “What are you doing here? I thought you had left for good?”

“I… wasn’t planning on coming back originally, but… I had to see you, I had to tell you.”

“Tell me what? That you left us all to rot in a dark hole while you were comfortable, taking the side of the liars, watching us be tortured? I already know that.”

“Sasha,” Snakes walked over to her and knelt by her, not daring to touch her. “I came to tell you that I’m sorry.” She laughed again, and this time she couldn’t hold in the tears.

“Oh, I know that too. I know how sorry you are.” She looked up into his eyes with her blazing green emerald ones. “They’re all sorry. They’re all sorry when they come back!” She slapped him across the face. “I hate you! Nobody loves you, Snakes! Nobody loves you anymore! You left them all and forfeited your right to be loved! I never want to see you again! I hope you die a slow, painful death! I can’t believe I ever trusted you!” Leo panicked and ran over to Sasha, restraining her from attacking Snakes.

Guilt immediately rose in Sasha’s throat as Snakes whimpered slightly and stood, heading for the door as calmly as he could.

“There is one thing you don’t know.” He said, his voice serious and steady. “But I love you, Sasha.” And with that, he walked out of the room, leaving Sasha to slump back into her chair.