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((Sorry for the delay! Got caught up in something irl.))
<span class="mu-r">“Maybe there’s a cure. We just stole a lab full of experimental medicine. One of them might work on you.”</span>
You pleaded. But Iara was already shaking her head before you could finish speaking.
<span class="mu-b">“That’s just it. We don’t know what most of that stuff does. And I don’t think we have enough time to test all of it out, unless you want to use me as a guinea pig and pray that I don’t get poisoned or horribly mutated. Again.”</span>
You knew that she had a point, but you didn’t want to accept that there were no other options.
You shook your head.
<span class="mu-r">“I told you that I’m not leaving you, and I meant it. If <span class="mu-i">he</span> doesn’t want to stay, then <span class="mu-i">I’ll</span> be the one to pull you out of here.”</span>
Mark stared you down with his perpetually frowning mask, but you didn’t sense any malice or hostility behind it. He just stayed quiet.
The smile that Iara gave you was more genuine than the last, but there was an undeniable sadness behind it.
<span class="mu-b">“Fine, but you can’t stay forever. Once we blow the windows out, I’m gonna need you to get your ass back in that portal.”</span>
The two of you stared each other down, neither of you breaking eye contact or backing down from your arguments. Finally, you let out a sigh and shook your head.
<span class="mu-r">“I guess that’s better than nothing.”</span>
<span class="mu-r">“Get ready.</span> <span class="mu-s">I’m detonating these mines</span> <span class="mu-b">in thirty seconds.”</span>
Mark said, inputting a series of commands into a keypad built into his gauntlet. Both of you ran to the command console, bracing yourselves for what was to come. Iara grabbed the steering wheel, shifting her grip every few seconds just to settle her nerves. She was white-knuckling it.
<span class="mu-r">“Don’t worry. I’m with you.”</span>
You placed a hand on her arm, and the look she shot you was half-agitated, half-relieved.
<span class="mu-b">“I’d be less nervous if you would've just hopped through the portal like I told you to. Now I’ve got to worry about getting you out in one piece.”</span>
<span class="mu-r">“We’re <span class="mu-i">both</span> getting out of here.”</span>
She let out a dry laugh. She sounded resigned to her fate.
<span class="mu-b">“Wouldn’t that be nice. I always wanted to go out in a blaze of glory. I just-”</span>
She gripped the steering wheel tighter, making the leather and metal creak slightly. Her breath caught, and she tried her very best to suppress a sniffle.
<span class="mu-b">“I just thought I’d have more time. Things were finally starting to look up for us. Callie was actually smiling, and we had clean air and water. You gave us more than we could’ve asked for, even if you had us growing drugs to pay it off.”</span>
You wanted to correct her and say that they weren’t technically drugs, but now didn’t seem like the right time.
<span class="mu-b">“Hey, Huntsman?”</span>
(Cont.)
