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great

Shit

A fewevery second He felt the car level out as it hit bottom

They were now thirty feet doiet out of the damn car first

“Knox! Knox! Wake up!” He reached up, shook her violently, then slapped her face “Knox!”

He heard her sputter and then choke as water entered her mouth

“What…what?” she began groggily

Puller had to arch back to keep the water out of his mouth

He pulled his gun but kneas no good He should have done that sooner A mistake Probably now a fatal one

Unlike in theto lose, he pointed it at the carand pulled the trigger

Nothing happened

The water was now up to his eyes Even arching back he couldn’t keep his mouth out of it He started to sputter and choke on the foul stuff

He raet any h the water

Holding Knox up, he put his back against the steering wheel, torqued his body, put his feet against the door and pushed, slowly,every ounce of his considerable strength He could feel the door give, but only a bit

So this is how it’s going to end?

He felt Knox move above him and then she fell into the water next to him

He frantically reached for her, but she caainst the door and they pushed together, their backs arched to keep their mouths out of the water

They pushed as hard as they could, synchronizing their an to open a bit more

But it wasn’t nearly enough, and if they et out, the water pressure would slaood

The interior lights of the car were still feebly on They could dimly see each other Their dual fates were ined features

As they both passed under the water, she reached out and touched his cheek

The panic in her eyes, he was sure, was matched in his

But he was feeling an even more powerful emotion

Failure

He had failed

And he had died

Andof all?

He had allowed Veronica Knox to die alongside him

You didn’t do that to a comrade You saved them, even if you died yourself That was just the Ar a soldier

Sacrifice

They were past saving at this point, he knew Even if soo into the water, which he didn’t think they had

But Puller was not going to give up

He turned back to the door and pushed with all histo need it er anyway

He looked at Knox, clenched his teeth to keep out the water, and mouthed the words, “I’m sorry”

She nodded in understanding

They were going to die But at least they would die together

Still pushing against the door with his shoulder, he reached out with his hand and she took it in hers

He felt her hand treht

His air nearly gone, he turned to look back at her

Her eyes were fluttering as the hypoxia took over