As the three ventured into the dark abyss, Courtney kept her hold on Duncan's large hand. He was gently stroking her thumb with his, a calming gesture that she adored. He had always done it when they dated. Whenever she was stressed about something, he'd grab her hand and stroke her skin with his thumb.

She remembered when he had dragged her to a haunted house attraction as one of their dates so many years ago. How pissed she had been when she found out where he was taking her, him knowing very well how much she hated scary things. 

"Relax Princess, I'll hold your hand the entire time, okay?" Duncan had said, as they walked towards the entrance to the house. Courtney had remembered the fear crawling up her throat as she looked at the terrifying entrance that was in the shape of a devil's head.

She felt his cold hand slowly slip into her own, cupping her tiny hand in his large masculine grip. He sent her a secret smile as he pulled her into the house.

He had kept his word, not letting go of her hand for one second. All the while stroking her skin with his thumb. 

It was his tiny way of letting her know how much he cared. His secret 'I love you' as you will.

And now, as they walked hand and hand, Courtney found herself missing his little 'I love you's' more than she had in a long time. She closed her eyes briefly, lingering to the feeling of his thumb stroking her skin. Wishing they weren't in such a horrible situation, so she could feel his touch and focus only on that.

I bet he stroked Gwen's hand too..

Feeling her throat start to close at the thought, Courtney shook her head.

No. She would not think like that. She couldn't.

"Hey, you okay?" Duncan's soft, worried words broke her out of her sadness. She blinked and smiled weakly at her former lover

"Yeah.." she croaked "I'm just peachy,"

"Hey guys!" Cody's jump in tone caught her attention, and she tried to ignore Duncan's stare as she looked ahead at the brunette.

"I think I found another staircase." Cody said, nodding forward. Duncan slowly walked forward, holding Courtney a safe distance behind him as he looked forward. 

Cody was right, just up ahead a maze of stairs laid before them. 

"Gee..." Courtney mumbled "Need we remember what happened the last time we went down mysterious stairs?"

Duncan sighed, and let go of her hand only to light his lighter again, and looked into the illuminated staircase. 

"Well..." he sighed "We can either keep walking the other way, and ignore the stairs, or we can go down them,"

"I'm all for ignoring them," Courtney said. Cody nodded 

"Yeah, what stairs.." he said, nervously looking away. Duncan rolled his eyes and stepped back beside Court, grabbing her hand and leading the way down the hall to the right. Leaving the stairs behind. 

The trio had been walking for about ten more minutes, when Courtney suddenly got a shiver down her spine. She looked behind them, seeing only nothing but darkness. She couldn't shake the feeling that someone was here... With them

"I think we should get heading back..." Cody was saying. But his words were slowly drowned out by a sound.

Duncan froze, and turned around, holding his lighter up. 

The sound was coming from the darkness down the hall. A boom. It was growing louder, and louder.

"Is there any chance that could just be Gwen?" Cody whimpered, Duncan shook his head. He slowly walked a little ways down the hall, holding his lighter out in front of him to see

"Duncan.." Courtney whispered, worried about him going towards the noise. 

He ignored her, and slowly smelled the air as a very distinct scent lingered in the air. 

"Do you smell... Gas?" Cody whispered to Courtney. Who shrugged, not sure-

A sudden, horrific rush of blazing heat swiped down the hallway, making Duncan's eyes water in pain. His eyes shot wide, and he screamed

"Run!" he cried, as he watched a wall of flame shoot down the hall, heading straight for them. 

Cody yelped, and scrambled down the hall, Duncan yanked Courtney's arm and ran with her. 

Courtney screamed as she felt a fireball shoot past her head, nearly taking her hair with it. 

Cody covered his eyes from the heat, not noticing a fork in the tunnel ahead of them. Splitting the pathway into 2 separate directions. 

The heat was horrible, burning into their backs through their clothes. 

Duncan flung forward, just barely making it behind a wall as the wall of fire shot past them, and disappeared down the hall. Leaving a cloud of thick black smoke behind it. 

Cody landed at Duncan's feet, coughing from the lack of oxygen, Duncan wiped at his face, needing some sore of relief from the burning in his eyes. 

The smoke filled the room, making everything dark. 

Duncan held his breath, the smoke was choking him. He fell to his knees against the wall, and squeezed his eyes shut. Praying for relief...

The smoke dissented down the hall, following the flame that had created it. 

Duncan slowly blinked the soot out of his eyes, he saw Cody laying on the floor at his feet, breathing hard. They were both covered in black soot. His back felt stinging pain from the burns he had received. 

Duncan coughed hard, and wiped his mouth, slowly sighing in relief. 

They were alive. 

They were-

Wait...

"Courtney?" he choked out through his burning throat. His eyes whipped around the room, looking for any signs of the gorgeous girl. 

"Cody!" Duncan screamed, launching to his feet. 

"Huh.." Cody moaned. Duncan gritted his teeth and picked up the smaller guy by the collar of his sweater, bringing his face dangerously close to his own

"Where. Is. Courtney." Duncan snarled, Cody began to shake in fear at the crazed look in Duncan's teal eyes

"I... thought she was with you.." Cody whimpered. 

Duncan's face paled to the point where he looked gray. He dropped Cody to the ground, as he felt his heart speed up.

Duncan looked down at his hands that no longer held her tiny ones. 

He had let go.

He had broken his promise