Ling swore viciously and pulled Rhea fully into her arms again, sitting down with her back against the wall, Rhea slumped against her chest. She wrapped her arms around her tightly, not caring anymore how it looked or felt.
"This is not me forgiving you," Ling said through clenched teeth, pressing her mouth near Rhea's ear. "This is not me choosing you."
Her body shook harder now, cold finally claiming her too.
"This is me refusing to let you die just to prove a point."
She rubbed Rhea's arms roughly, trying to force warmth back, her own hands trembling violently. "Stay," she ordered again, voice breaking despite herself. "You always leave. Just—stay."
Rhea didn't answer.
Ling pressed her cheek against Rhea's hair, eyes burning, breath uneven.
The freezer stayed locked.
The cold deepened.
Ling hugged her tight.
Not gentle. Not comforting.
Desperate.
Rhea's body was frighteningly limp now, her head resting against Ling's shoulder, breath shallow and uneven. Every exhale was weaker than the last, barely fogging the air anymore.
"No," Ling whispered hoarsely. "No, no—don't do that."
Her arms tightened instinctively, as if sheer force could keep Rhea anchored to consciousness. Ling pressed her face into Rhea's hair, breathing her in like oxygen.
"Hey," she said sharply, pulling back just enough to look at her. "You don't get to sleep. Open your eyes."
Rhea didn't respond.
Ling's throat burned. Her vision blurred.
"Rhea," she snapped, voice cracking despite herself. "Wake up."
She shook her once, carefully—but firm enough to jolt.
Rhea groaned faintly. Her lashes fluttered, then fell again.
Ling's tears came suddenly, hot and furious, spilling down her cheeks unchecked.
"Don't you dare," Ling said, voice breaking. "You don't get to leave now. Not like this. Not after everything."
She pressed her forehead hard against Rhea's temple, teeth clenched, breath shaking. "I hate you," she whispered fiercely. "I hate you so much for doing this to me."
Her hands rubbed Rhea's arms relentlessly, trying to force warmth into skin that felt terrifyingly cold.
"Stay awake," Ling begged, the word slipping out before she could stop herself. "Just—just talk to me. Insult me. Yell at me. I'll take anything."
Rhea's lips moved weakly. No sound came out.
Ling's chest seized.
"Look at me," she said urgently, lifting Rhea's chin with trembling fingers. "You're not allowed to check out when I'm still talking."
Her voice dropped, raw now. "I'll say it. Fine. You want it?"
She swallowed hard.
"I was wrong," Ling said, the words tasting like blood. "I shouldn't have left. I shouldn't have flown away. I shouldn't have said what I said."
Rhea didn't react.
Ling shook her head violently, tears falling faster. "No—don't ignore that. You like it when I admit things. Stay awake and listen."
She laughed weakly, hysterically. "I lied, okay? I lied when I said you didn't matter. I lied when I said you sold me. I knew why you did it."
Her voice cracked completely. "I just couldn't forgive you for surviving without me."
She pressed her mouth close to Rhea's ear, voice shaking. "You hear that? I'm saying it. So don't you dare leave before you throw it back in my face."
Rhea's breathing stuttered.
Ling felt it and froze. "Hey—hey—stay with me."
She hugged Rhea tighter, rocking slightly without realizing it. "You're not allowed to sleep. You always fall asleep when things get hard. Stay awake. Stay angry. Hate me if you want—just stay."
Her hands slid up to cradle Rhea's face, thumbs brushing over frozen cheeks. "You're warm. You're fine," Ling lied desperately. "You're just tired. You'll yell at me in a minute. You always do."
Another tear slipped free, landing on Rhea's cheek.
"Please," Ling whispered. "Don't make me beg alone in here."
Her voice broke fully now. "I followed you. I came back. I'm here. Isn't that what you wanted?"
Rhea's head lolled slightly.
Ling panicked.
"No," she said sharply, almost scolding. "No. Open your eyes. Rhea—open them. You don't get to scare me like this."
She pressed her lips briefly to Rhea's temple—not a kiss, not comfort—more like a promise she didn't know how to keep.
"I'll stop," Ling blurted suddenly. "I'll stop controlling. I'll stop hurting people. I'll stop pretending hate is easier. I'll do it. I swear."
Her laugh came out broken. "You don't even have to believe me. Just stay awake long enough to call me a liar."
She pulled Rhea closer, curling around her protectively, blocking what little cold she could.
"Rhea," Ling whispered again, voice raw and shaking. "You don't get to leave me with this."
Her tears soaked into Rhea's hair now, falling freely, unstoppable.
"I can hate you tomorrow," Ling murmured desperately. "I can punish you later. I can walk away after. Just—just stay with me right now."
The freezer remained locked.
The cold pressed in.
Ling held Rhea tighter, shaking, crying openly now—begging, lying, scolding, confessing—
doing everything she swore she never would again,
because obsession didn't care about pride,
and hatred had never been strong enough
to loosen her grip when Rhea started slipping away.