TRAPPED

Chapter Nine: Nightmare

I start to walk towards the piece of paper, Asher walking a few feet behind me. I grab the folded sheet and rip it off of the wall. I unfold it and read what it says.

"I think we all need a break." is all it says.

"What the hell is this?" I ask myself.

I turn the paper around to see if there's anything on the back, but it's blank.

"That's it?!" I raise my voice.

Asher grabs the paper from my hands and examines it himself.

"I'm not blind, Asher. There's nothing on there," I say in response to his action.

"I know. Just wanted to see for myself," he answers.

"What the hell does he want us to do about the temperature? Is he actually just going to leave us here like this?" I ask.

"Why do you keep overestimating him, Phoenix? You've seen first hand how crazy he is. Yes, he would absolutely leave us in here like this."

I sigh.

"I know. It just baffles me how cruel a guy can be."

He stays silent.

"We're probably gonna die in here," I say.

"Yeah, probably," Asher plainly agrees.

We both sigh.

"Look on the bright side. We get to be with them," he says.

I smile softly.

"Yeah,"

"But, I can't just leave the rest of my friends. I know they care for me and I care for them. Abandoning them isn't an option," I add.

Asher smiles, leading him to silently chuckle.

"What?" I ask, raising an eyebrow.

"Nothing," he responds.

I nudge him in the arm.

"It's heartwarming."

"What is?"

"Seeing how much you and your friends care for each other."

I raise both of my eyebrows in surprise.

"I think that's the nicest thing you've said to me the entire time we've known each other; and it wasn't even a direct complimentary."

He laughs at my statement. He has a nice laugh.

"Yeah, it probably is," Asher agrees.

I laugh along with him. He makes me forget. He makes me forget about all of my problems. How does he do that? I barely know him. He shouldn't be able to do that. Our laughter dies down and we sit on the floor against the wall.

We sit in silence for a while, just thinking. It's not awkward or anything, which is nice. Then, he breaks the silence.

"I've been trying really hard not to ask you this, but I can't hold my curiosity anymore."

I turn my head to face him.

"How...are you?"

I flinch at the question. I know what he's referring to. I know what he's asking, and I don't want to answer. I don't want to think about it. I turn my head again to look forward instead of at him.

"You don't have to answer if you don't want to..."

"I don't,"

Asher stays quiet. I sigh. I shouldn't be taking this out on him.