The ticking sound of the Box was still prevalent. Chuck bad used the key on the box, and no one knew how long they had till it went boom. Somehow the key didn't work. They were at the end of their ropes here.
Albert: Did you turn the key the right way!!
Chuck: I did!!! Of course I know how to use a key!!!
They were shouting at each other, as the building around them was crumbling down.
Lin: Are you sure you yot the right key??
Chuck: The fireflies led me to it!! I'm sure that it was the right one!!
Melissa: Fireflies led you?? What the hell do you even mean??
Lin: It's a whole thing!!
Albert: Here, let me try it!!
Albert snatched the key from Chuck and went to check the Box. He put the key inside and tried turning it clockwise. The key did a full revolve and nothing happened. He did it three times. The result was the same. He turned it anti clockwise too, multiple times in regular intervals. Nothing changed.
Melissa: Maybe there is some other keyhole.
Lin snatched the key from Albert and pushed him away. He was trying to reveal where he Dreacon put the key in Savanta's memory. But that was activation key, so he wasn't sure. The Box itself was unmovable, so Lin searched around it.
Lin: There has to a hole somewhere!!!
Albert didn't know what to do. Chuck was ready eyes and scared. He needed to do something, but didn't know what. Melissa kneeled beside them and used her strings to enter the keyhole and gauge it's inside.
Melissa: No...I'm not finding anything useful in there...!!
Chuck: No!!
Albert: Did he lie about there being a deactivation key then, just for us to cling on to hope??
Chuck: There's no way. If this isn't the deactivation key, why would the fireflies lead me to it??
Albert: What fireflies????!!
Albert was confused and angry on the fireflies he kept mentioning.
Melissa: What do we do..??
Max just stood there, looking at his left palm. He didn't join in on the conversation they had. He looked at the inside of his left palm, and thought about it. He then created a black hole using his power, and the pain kicked in again. Things around him started flying again, due to the gravity.
Max: All of you...Go!!
All of them turned to Max, who stood tall, with a mini black hole in his hand.
Max: Get out. I counted the seconds ever since he said thirty minutes. We have about two minutes left. You guys keep running as far away as you can!!
Chuck: What...are you saying..???
Albert: What are you trying to do??
Max was cut badly by Dreacon. But when he was fighting for his life trying to hold on, he kept counting seconds to keep himself awake. It was a method he had learnt by watching a few films. He also roughly knew the time left until the explosion.
Max was always ready to sacrifice. He thought that this was the best outcome for them too.
Max: I'm gonna use my Black Hole on the Box at the very last second and try to destroy the Box. So, you guys go away, as far as you can...
Lin: why??? Why should we run away??
Max looked at the questioning Lin.
Max: I don't know for how long I can hold this power. I don't even know if my calculation is correct. And even if I am right, I don't know if it'll work on it. In case it didn't, I don't know the range of it's explosion. So all I can do is wait until you guys are safe. Keep running...don't look back.
Max was barely conscious. He bent his head and stared at the ground. His vision was blurry. He just needed to hold out until they leave. He would then be a heroic person who saved their loves. This death would be a good death, than whatever he would have had before.
He saw their feet. Chuck got up, then Melissa. Albert and Lin were already standing. Max closed his eyes, as he heard footsteps. He smiled, seeing that they were leaving.
But then Max realised that the footsteps were growing louder, as if they were nearing him. He lifted his head, to see all four of them standing by his side, arms crossed.
Max: What are you guys doing???! I told you to run!!
Lin: Oh shut up, wannabe hero!!!
Chuck: Yeah,...why do you always want to sacrifice yourself?? Are you that self righteous..??
Max: You don't understand. It's gonna blow up any moment!!
Albert: I don't think anyone wants to leave your side. Besides...I don't think we will make it far in this maze of a place.
Max: Are you all...stupid?? You would die!! Who in their right mind would choose to die when they can live??
Lin: Are you serious?? Do you even see what you are doing jerk face??
Max looked at all of them, surrounded by the crashing building.
Melissa: Stop being such a hypocrite, Max. If dying is your choice, then we have the right to choose what we want too!!
Lin smiled. Albert smiled. Chuck was scared, but still managed to smile.
Chuck: We believe you can win Max. We saw you defeat the monster so easily!! We will be right beside you when you win!!
Max: You guys are morons!!!
Max then smiled. He was surrounded...by friends.