Kiss of Death
Even in this light I could see that my thumb was swelling purple. I glanced at Margaret, who held a broken piece of wood in one hand. It hung there, swaying back and forth. It's splinters frosting by the second. She dropped it to the ground, and took a seat on a chilled piece of meat. Although the room was getting colder with each tick of the clock, her blood must have been boiling like a thousand degree volcano in that moment.
"Sorry, I should have--"
"Don't," she cut me off with a sharp glare. Her hazel eyes fell back down to the icy floor. She rubbed her arms, hoping to stay warm. I nodded to myself, reassuring that it was the right thing to do, and took off my coat to give to her. She accepted, but still it wouldn't matter. We were going to freeze to death unless someone saved us.
"At least we could settle our problems before… you know." I shrugged my shoulders and sat next to her. She didn't move away, but instead took my hand and examined my thumb. The cold was preventing the blood from rushing to it, so it helped the swelling. She took a small piece of meat and laid it on top. I looked into her eyes.
"You're an asshole," she whispered. She kissed my cold cheek with her frozen lips. "But I forgive you." She rested her head on my shoulder. I could feel her shivers, and see her breath in the air. My breath was also, and I wondered for how long it had been like this. How long did we have? Who would die first?
"We have to get out of here." My voice was faint, but the tone and conviction was strong. She stood with me as if our hands had been frozen together. My eyes wandered around the freezer… looking… searching… there must have been a way out. Maybe there was a vent that I, or she, could crawl through to the other side.
Her hand let go, and she collapsed to the ground. Her shivering had become too uncontrollable, and her legs could no longer support her body. I fell to my knees and held her. I looked deep into her eyes, which still burned with fury.
"I love you."
"Don't speak like we're already dead." She smirked and playfully hit my shoulder. I barely felt it. I could barely feel anything physically any more. Everything was numb except for the pain in my heart. I knelt there, with my love Margaret in my arms, and watched her go before I. Her final words were "Hold on tight…" Her teeth chattered. "Never let go…" More chattering. "I love you…" After that there was nothing but shivers and teeth chattering.
When her last breath escaped from her body in a miniscule puff of moister I brought her lips to mine and gave her a final kiss upon her icy lips. After that moment the light in her eyes disappeared and I was alone. The darkness surrounded me in my grief and I felt nothing, not even my own passing.
