A cold but amused scoff echoed around the room. I fluttered my eyes open and squinted in the dim darkness. A figure stalked forward and towered over me.

The figure pressed a cold object to my forehead. It wasn’t until I saw her face that I understood the position I was in.

“Asa? You’re alive?” I asked in a monotone voice. My breathing stayed relaxed, but my heart was racing.

She smiled, as if we were having a charming discussion about the weather.

“Gun, or knife?”

“I-I don’t understand.”

My hands squirmed in the restraints that kept me bound to the floor. She laughed as I struggled.

“Okay, let me spell it out for you. Death by gunshot? Or knife to the heart?”

“Is there another option?” My chest started to hurt from the pounding.

“Don’t waste my time.”

“You don’t have to do this, we can both walk away right now.” I said.

“True.” She feigned sadness and pouted. “But that’s no fun, is it?

She put the gun down and played with her knife. She rubbed her fingers along the blade and tossed it in the air and caught it each time.

“Choose.”

She grabbed one of my hands and held it to the floor, then she grabbed her knife and slid it between each space of my hand. Her movements became stronger and quicker each time. Slowly the knife inched closer to my finger, just barely missing it.

My eyes widened as far as they could and my hand trembled. Asa looked up at me with a complacent smile. Soon my shallow breaths turned into frightened shouts.

“Stop! Stop!”

She continued to move the knife between each finger.

“Asa! I mean it!”

I shut my eyes, and just as I was about to kick Asa with my leg, she stepped away.

I tried to calm my erratic breathing, but that only caused me to hyperventilate.

“Jeez, acting like you’re gonna die or something.” Asa rolled her eyes.

Salty tears started to build in my eyes. I did everything I could to keep them from falling. I wasn’t going to go out like that.

“You’re insane. You’re a sad lonely individual and I can’t wait to see what leads to your demise.” I spat.

Asa chuckled. “You talk allot of trash for the girl without a weapon.”

She pressed the knife to my chest. I needed to think of something fast.

“What exactly do you plan to do with my body after you kill me?” I looked down at the knife.

“Bury you in the graveyard.” She said matter-of-factly.

“But Asa. The police are still patrolling that area…what will they think when you show up with a trash bag and a shovel?”

For a split second Asa’s smug smile faded.

I’ll just toss you in the river, all of the evidence will get washed away with you.”

“You mean the river they’re adding to the national park? There’s cameras all over that place you know.”

Asa scowled. “Are you trying to tell me how to do my job?”

I wore a plain face. “No..no. I’m just trying to help you.”

“Right. And why would you help me?”

“Because there’s nothing left for me. You’ve killed my friends, destroyed my planet, and even if you didn’t kill me, I was just gonna die anyway.” I tried to hide my bitter expression.

Asa’s face was expressionless.

“And if you kill me, I’ll be the last person who could ever tolerate you. Your final ally.”

“I have ally’s.” Asa sounded as if she was trying to convince herself.

“Who? Akio the traitor? Venus your so-called best friend?” I folded my arms.

“You and I both know you’d kill yourself before helping me. Why should I believe you?” Asa glared into my eyes.

I smiled. “Because I’m the only one who can get you out of your mess. Unless of course you wanted to turn yourself in to the authorities.”

“You can get me out of here?” Asa asked.

“I can get you a spacecraft in minutes, your freedom is up to you.”

“Why is going against your morals worth your life now?

“I need an escape from this chaos, and you need a real plan. We both win.”

Asa unlocked my restraints and grabbed her bag. She pointed her gun in my face.

“If you’re lying, I’ll kill you.”

I move the gun away from my face.

“Unlike you, I mean the things I say.” I started to walk out of the room, but stopped in front of a corpse.

I gestured to Asa. “Should we uh, do something with this?”

Asa creased her brows. “Why? It’s not like he’s going anywhere.”

Asa stepped over the corpse and lead me out of the room. I breathed a sigh of relief as I exited what could have been my death chamber.