Back Into the Darkness
Part I - Interlude
Hannibal and B.A. were holding off the guards as Face went for the cells. Decker had apparently not been kidding when he'd said he'd wanted to put Murdock into the deepest, darkest, most remote padded cell he could find. It had taken six long weeks, but they'd finally found their teammate and now they were here to free him.
As he started to pick the lock, Face called through the door.
"Murdock? Murdock, we're here, buddy. Sorry it took us so long."
The voice coming back gave him the chills. It wasn't much more than a whisper, but it was a whisper that carried. Still it sounded so weak. Far too weak.
"Faceman. I knew you would come. I never gave up. I never told. I never told them anything. Not even when they promised that the hurting would stop if I told. Not even when they told me I could have food again if I told. I didn't tell."
"We know you didn't, buddy."
"Funny thing, they could have gotten me to tell. If they had just said that they would let me see the sky again one last time. I never wanted anything so badly as to feel the sun again. Face?"
"Shh – Murdock. Save your strength. You'll see the sky again real soon, buddy. I've almost got – there!"
The click of the lock gave way to his skills and Face swung open the door to check on his best friend – and saw him lying on a filthy cot on a filthier floor curled up with his back to him. The whole area was foul. An open hole for a latrine. Dead animals here and there. The stench made the lieutenant retreat a step as his eyes adjusted. Holding a cloth over his mouth to try and filter out some of the odor, Face reached out and took hold of the familiar battered jacket.
"Come on, let's get you out of here."
"I knew you'd come - I just wish you could have made it a little sooner."
Tugging on the jacket made Murdock roll over suddenly and the lieutenant found himself within inches of skin writhing with maggots - staring terrified into the empty eye sockets of the obviously dead pilot. But still he heard the whispered voice.
"I trusted you with my life... where is it?"
Face sat bolt upright, sweat covering every inch of his body as he woke up both Hannibal and B.A. with his screaming.