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“Liquid nitrogen.”

I lifted my eyes to his and motioned with them to the sign. At first, I feared he didn’t understand, then I noticed his eyebrows rise slightly. Though Candice was smart, she was also manic at this point, drunk on power, and hopefully wouldn’t figure out my plan. The crazed look in her eyes told me she wouldn’t.

Travis stepped back, and the tears in my eyes were real as I climbed over the railing again. My heart tried to desert my body and stay on deck with the men. But out of time, I drew a deep breath and leaped.

The moment, with nothing below me and everything to lose, seemed to last forever. Then suddenly I was grasping for purchase on the slippery, cold metal of the machine. I pulled myself onto the thin ledge surrounding the giant tank of freezing chemicals. My hands closed around the old-fashioned looking wheel that would release the nitrogen, and I felt invincible.

Until I heard the next gunshot.

I couldn’t see what was happening. A shriek rose above the roar of the machinery. My chest tightened as I reminded myself that if Candice was upset, it could only be a good thing.

Maybe Travis did something to distract her. But that could also have been bad. What if Mason was shot again, bleeding to death on the ground? He’d already lost so much blood from the aquarium. Or what if Travis had been shot now too? My pulse thrummed along with the machines as I used all my hundred and twenty pounds to turn the wheel counter clockwise, wishing I carried more bulk.

It seemed to take forever until I heard the hiss from above. I swung over to the side, looking for a way through so I could climb back up top and help. I hoped I’d accomplished more than just a momentary diversion, and Candice was in the path of the nitrogen pouring from the pipe. The plan felt much less solid now that it was happening.

I had to get back up there. I wiggled between the nitrogen tank and the pressure stabilization system, coming out on the opposite side. I jumped to the bottom of the railing on the deck above when a horrible sound tore at my eardrums. The creak and groan of metal and a crack of thunder so hard, the whole world shook.

I nearly fell, forgetting where I was, as a huge section of the deck opposite me snapped and tumbled into the chasm below, scraping and banging against the rest of the machinery on its way down. I pulled myself up and lay on my stomach, trying to make sense of what had happened.

The liquid nitrogen must have frozen that section of metal, causing the entire portion of the catwalk to collapse.

But which section fell? I edged my way around as quickly and quietly as I could. The stasis chambers were all still there, set in stiff rows across the giant gap before me.

I strained to listen for some sign of life. Had I killed Mason and Travis along with Candice? Did I send them all to their violent deaths below?

What if Mason was dead? What if Travis was dead too? What if I was alone down there? Everyone else could either be dead or in stasis. What if I never made it to the surface?

I searched the dim lighting surrounding me for some sign of life. Surely someone would have found me by now if they were around to do so. I’d be dead if Candice had her way.

It didn’t matter. I didn’t matter. Not if I’d killed people. Not if I’d killed the man I loved.

“Mason! Travis!” I yelled for them, praying for a response.

Fear kept me prisoner there. I didn’t know how long it was, but I waited for something, anything. Even Candice’s insane face would’ve been a strange comfort. My body shook. My head throbbed along with the machines. I’d probably die from withdrawal before anything else.

The truth became clear. No one was coming.

“I’m sorry, Mom.” She was going to die all alone up there because of me. Sixty people would die down here because of me.

“Mason.” His name was made of anguish.

There was nothing left to do but say goodbye.

I pulled myself up to standing and walked the long circumference of the remaining walkway to the stasis chambers. It was possible the structural integrity of the whole deck could break down and I’d go tumbling into the abyss after the others, but that didn’t stop me. I felt reckless.

I strolled through the rows of people lying supine in glass, coffin-like enclosures, pausing over the ones I knew. Mrs. Gould had a smile on her face. Nicole looked like sleeping beauty. Jackson’s slack expression made me crumple once again, lying over his enclosure and sobbing like a maniac.

I straightened up, brushing the hair and tears from my face. I’d find my father’s stasis chamber, apologize to him, and wait by his side for the end to come.

When I felt a hand on my shoulder, I screamed, spinning around like a wild animal. A pale and disheveled Mason stood before me. I tackled him in a hug, nearly knocking him over. My shouts of joy melded into more sobs, though I seemed to have no more tears inside me.

“I didn’t kill you. You’re alive.” Somehow, I got the words out through my hiccups. I touched his face with both hands, making sure he was really there. “I thought it was the end. I thought I’d killed you all and it was just me left. I’m so…so…” Unable to find the right word to express how grateful I was, I gave in to all the raw emotion inside me, and pressed my lips to his.

I held back for a moment, afraid I’d hurt him, but based on his response, I’d made the right choice. He backed me into Jackson’s chamber as we attempted to devour each other’s mouths. My hands were everywhere, still desperate to prove he was really there, and when he groaned, I was not sure if it was from pleasure or pain.

“I’m sorry,” I said, breathing hard and pulling away.

“Please don’t apologize for that,” Mason said with a lopsided grin. He looked more normal, but he held his side with one arm, and his skin had a pale, sweaty sheen.