Sofie sat alone in a dark cell. Leland's was next to hers. Phyllis's and Jade's were across the hall. The only light came from a small slit window in her door. She sat with her knees pulled up under her chin, wondering what was happening to him. She had heard Leland being taken away a while ago. She wasn’t sure when, maybe it was a couple of minutes, maybe a couple of days. It wasn’t a pleasant thing to hear as it started with boots walking down the hall, then harsh Kan-ji voices and Leland’s cursing… followed by a zapping noise that ended with a thump on the floor.
Talking with Jade and Phyllis did little to comfort her, and they soon fell silent, worrying about Leland… and about what would happen to them.
The sound of boots returned… accompanied by a dragging sound. Sofie was relieved he was being brought back which meant he was still alive. But at the same time she was filled with dread as she wondered who would be taken next. She stood by her door, trying to see through its narrow window. All she could make out were shadows on the wall. The boots came closer. She could hear Leland's cell door open, then a thump and a moan that was cut short.
“Leland, are you OK?” She asked. A guard slammed his hand against her door. She flinched backwards but quietly returned.
“Not really, my arm’s broke. These guys are a real good time.” His voice was hoarse as he struggled to get the words out. “They want to know about our technology. I told them everything I know, but they...” He was cut short as she heard a dull thud along with a few sharp Kan-ji words.
She heard his cell door slam shut… then the sound she feared, boots coming closer. They stopped outside her door. It was going to be her or Phyllis. A sickening fear gripped her as she heard keys entering her door. She backed up flat against the far wall facing the door. Terrified and shaking, she slid to the floor and wrapped her arms around her knees, whimpering… waiting helplessly.
“Use the thing Jessie gave you!” Leland gasped. “Use it, Sofie! Use it now!”
“What thing?” She asked confused. “Jessie?” The thought of Jessie triggered her memory. It seemed like such a long time ago. “Oh, Jessie!” She remembered and reached in her front pocket for the flashlight Jessie had given her.
Her door opened. She needed to shield her eyes from the light as the three guards entered. Two remained at the door as the third stepped forward to collect her. She held the flashlight in front of her and not certain what she was to do with it, she turned it on.
Not feeling any vibration or recoil, she thought ‘it didn’t work’, that is, until she saw the look on the guards face before everything went dark.
“Sofie!” Phyllis’s voice dragged her out of a dream. She opened her eyes to see her cell filled with dust, like a heavy fog.
“I... I’m here.” Sofie coughed getting a mouthful of dust. She could see Phyllis’s silhouette emerge from the fog, followed by Jade. Phyllis stopped in front of her, looking back and forth.
“Down here.”
Phyllis knelt to wipe away the dust and debris from her. Jade joined in.
“What happened?” Sofie asked.
“You tell us. We heard Leland tell you to use that weapon Jessie gave you. You must have… look.” Jade answered as she moved aside. The dust cleared a bit letting Sofie see the devastation. There was a perfect hole in the wall were her door had been. The hole extended sideways through the wall to Leland’s cell. The damage extended across the hallway through to Phyllis’s and Jade’s cells.
“Lucky we were standing behind our doors.” Phyllis observed taking in the mess. The prison area they were in had reminded them of a dungeon, with stone walls and heavy wooden doors. Jessie’s weapon had blasted the stone walls apart while the wooden doors absorbed most of the blast.
“Where’s the guards.” Sofie asked standing up.
“No! You don’t want to see.” Jade held her back, but Sofie pushed forward anyway. She wasn’t as shocked as she thought she would be. They were dead. There wasn’t any blood, but it was obvious that most of their bones were broken.
“Leland?” Sofie remembered. Looking to his cell she saw Phyllis already leaning over him, wiping his face.
“Oh my!” Jade said seeing him. His arm was definitely broken; his face was pale and swollen and bleeding. His cloths were torn into rags as though from being whipped. He could hardly open his eyes and when he saw them, he gave a broken toothed smile.
Sofie turned away at the sight.
“Can you make some bandages out of their cloths?” Phyllis asked pointing to the dead guards.
Sofie was glad for the assignment. It took her mind off of the mess Leland was in... and the mess she would have been in if it wasn't for Jessie's little invention.
“I found your pack.” Jade's stuck her head out from behind a closet door further down the hall. She dropped it on the floor just as Phyllis set Leland’s broken arm. Sofie almost fainted at the sound of cracking bones being set back in place.
“Look, Cheorgh fruits.” Jade said rummaging through the pack, seemingly oblivious of Leland's pain. Sofie looked at his face. It was even paler than before, and now covered with sweat.
“There.” Phyllis said examining her handy work. “Now, we just need to clean you up.” She grabbed a bottle of water and some rags and went to work. Sofie and Jade searched the area, piling what they found in the hall.
Alec's Dream Page 56