In fact, no one came down for Marco for another five whole days. Toffee must be furious, Marco thought. Or perhaps... Something had stopped them from doing it. Maybe someone had come to rescue him. Maybe Star...

By now, Marco had completely given up on trying to stay alert. He actually spent most of his time lying down, saving his strength. He was used to the pitch darkness now. He used his hands to see, and he could feel how visible his ribcage was after five days with no food or water. He hadn't spoken for those five days- there was no need- and the dryness of his mouth told him he'd struggle if he tried. His stomach ached continuously.

He felt like a wounded animal- lying limply on the cold stone floor. Useless. Pathetic. He was sure if Star was in his position she would have found a much more efficient way to survive alone in the dark with no food or water. He sighed and coughed feebly.

Suddenly he heard running footsteps outside the door. He looked up towards where the door was- approximately- and listened hard, but didn't raise himself off the floor. He didn't think he would be able to get up if he tried. He was too weak. Weak and pathetic.

There was a great clanging, scraping noise and the doors slowly opened, to reveal two monsters. One was tall and thin, with lots of horns and a pale, twisted face, and the other was huge and hulking, covered in lumps- he was holding a flaming torch. Marco had to put his hands over his eyes because the light was too harsh on his now mole-like eyes. It burned them and he had to squint to see anything at all. He caught a glimpse of his fingers... They were skeletal and parchment white... Until the doors slammed shut again and darkness reigned. The warm glow of the torch only lit the faces of the monsters.

"Jesus," groaned the taller monster when she saw Marco lying on the floor. "Look at this one, Kai; I don't reckon he needs us to do 'im in. Looks a right state."

"Skin and bloody bones," Kai agreed. "C'mon Teesh, we gotta get this over with. Waited too long already. Boss'll smack us."

"Yeah. Alright," sighed Teesh. She stepped deeper into the dungeon and whipped out a short, jagged dagger in her claw. Marco recoiled against the wall.

"Aw, c'mere, Kai," she muttered. "Look at 'im. He just a kid."

"Tough," Kai said, approaching and shining the torch in Marco's face. He hissed and shielded his sore eyes. "He's gotta go. He's been in here for aboot a week anyways- much longer and he'll die without our help, Teesh, but we gotta do it."

"C-can you do it, Kai?" Teesh said, thrusting the knife on him. "I don't think I can. He's so helpless."

"You're soft," Kai said, grinning horribly. "I'll do it no problem. Rip him open, I will."

"Aw, no, Kai, you'd better not make a mess," Teesh whined. "Just slit his throat. Quick."

"Whatever," growled Kai. "Stand back then, ya wimp." He advanced on Marco with the knife grasped in his huge hand. Marco tried to hold in his sobs- he knew he would just seem even more pathetic and he didn't want his last movement to be the tears he was crying. He thought about his family as he lay there, the monster coming closer, savoring the moment. Finally Star burst into his mind and he couldn't hold back the tears. There weren't many. He was too dehydrated.

He heard the slow, trepidatious, heavy steps of the monster advancing.

Clunk

He was never going to see her face again...

Clunk

Would never hear her laugh again...

Clunk

Would never have the chance to thank her for everything...

Clunk

Would never have a chance to tell her how he felt...

Clunk

Would never have the chance to kiss her...

Bang!

They all stopped and looked around. Something was happening outside; There were yells and frantic running footsteps.

"What the..." Kai paused in lifting the dagger. "What's going on?"

"I'll go and see," Teesh said. "Do it, quickly, while I'm gone."

Kai nodded. He bent down and lifted Marco by the front of his shirt. He was so light that it was no trouble for the muscular monster to bring him off the ground. Marco kicked feebly but couldn't do very much at all. He hated himself for it.

Just as Kai raised the knife again, ready to plunge in into Marco's chest, Marco threw caution to the wind and bit him on the arm with all the force he could muster.

Kai yelled in pain and surprise, grabbing Marco by the arm and flinging him hard across the dungeon. His own weight and the whipping motion of Kai's movement made Marco's elbow splinter. He smacked into the wall and cracked his head against the rock, then slumped down, pain blurring his vision but with no voice to scream with.

"You little shit!" Kai shouted. "Look what you did!" Marco had drawn blood on his arm.

Marco just lay, grasping his broken arm and feeling hot blood running down his hair. So... Concussion, he concluded, before blacking out.