Greetings all,
So this chapter is, I think, the shortest one but it was a good place to finish so I feel justified and the next one will be a long one to make up for it :D
We've finally reached the main setting of this story, Athena (my cat) is so excited she's crawled onto my lap and buried her head in my arm (sitting on my laptop as any self respecting cat would) so I think I'll end my ramblings now.
Hope you all like it.
Chapter 3
Floating between sleep and consciousness Keller slowly became aware of inconsistencies in her situation. She could hear the sound of dripping water to her left and two male voices to her right, neither of which should be in her room, soon after she lost her grip and swam back into the safe darkness. It took three more attempts before Keller became more aware of her surroundings; the water still dripped but the voices were gone, and she now felt pain in her head and arms as well as a bone aching cold. Still too groggy to open her eyes Keller tried moving to see if everything still worked, she froze as her struggles were met with the rattling of chains. Opening her eyes with great trepidation Keller looked around her. Darkness, so deep she questioned whether her eyes were open, pressed in around her "H...lo?" she rasped from a painfully dry throat. Clearing it and trying to wet her lips with her tongue she tried again "Hello... is th-there anyone there?" Jennifer whimpered as her questions were met by silence.
As her memory of last night's, or what she assumed was last night's, events came back to her a crushing fear threatened to overwhelm her, tears rolled down her cheeks and her breath came out in short gasps, tugging against her restraints were useless but she did it anyway. As the adrenalin faded and she began to think logically again she tried to take stock of her situation. She was in what smelt like a damp cave, with a short chain linking her hands to a bolt in the floor near what felt like a rock wall, alone. She ignored the swell of fear and patted herself down to see what she had been left with. She still wore her trousers and the tank top, the vest and the knife she had taken to carrying strapped against her shin were gone. It took three tries before she managed to get her feet under her, the cold of the stony ground sharp against her bare feet. It soon became apparent that the chain she was anchored with wasn't long enough for her to stand straight however standing hunched was better than being found on her knees.
An itch sprang up under her arm and she twisted and turned desperately trying to reach it, with a groan she managed to twist herself whilst stooped over. She huffed and puffed, and then giggled and then laughed. The laughter went on for so long her sides were aching and a distinct note of hysteria had crept into it. Here she was kidnapped by God knows who, for God knows what, for God knows how long and it was an itch that consumed most of her thoughts. Well done Keller, you've definitely lost it this time.
"Oh dear" A deep male voice drifted from the darkness somewhere to her right freezing her "don't tell me you've already broken, I do so enjoy that part of my job" a light flared to life right where her eyes were searching and she gasped with the pain that shot through her head. With her eyes screwed tightly shut and her face turned away she tried to track his footsteps towards her. She must have been off because the cool damp hand that caressed her cheek was a shock that set her heart racing with fear.
"Please, what do you want from me?" she hated herself for the quiver that was obvious in her voice.
She cautiously opened her eyes and blinked away the colourful spots in her vision. The man in front of her was tall and solid, arms like tree trunks and a face only a mother could love, if she had to guess she would say he was Berrin's father but his blue eyes were terrifyingly cold.
"Eventually I want to know everything that you do about Atlantis, including all the codes but I'm a patient man, I don't expect you to give them up easily but I do expect you to do it eventually" he picked up his lantern and walked to the opposite wall "this female however, I do not expect to give me anything, what do you think Doctor?"
Jennifer's back prickled as she squinted past the coloured spots in her vision to see the person on the other wall. It was Lieutenant Barker, the leader who had originally requested her presence "Lilly?" she whispered. The Lieutenant looked badly beaten, her lip was split several times, both eyes swollen and one of her hands looked out of shape. Her clothing was shredded and Keller could see wounds under it.
The man reached over and grabbed a fistful of Lilly's hair who groaned softly and weakly tried to struggle and even then his eyes remained locked on Keller "I played with her for 2 days doctor. Did you know? For 2 days she beg you to wake up but it seems the drugs really do their job, it's a shame we used the last of it on your trip here" he grinned maliciously and turned to speak in Lilly's ear "it's clear to me you're not going to give me anything my dear but I must say it was fun while it lasted" he pressed his face right up against hers and smiled slowly as the Lieutenant froze "is there anything you would like to tell the good doctor before I throw you to the dogs?"
Keller's breath came it short white puffs in front of her as she took in what he was saying "No, wait please th-"
"Doctor!" Lilly shouted as loudly as she could, ignoring the man as he started to unhook the chains "stop worrying about me and start worrying about yourself" she paused to catch her breath clearly exhausted "I know that you know not to give anything away but it's going to hurt. A lot. Always remember that if you break everyone on Atlantis is dead. You're already dead" Lilly clenched her teeth around a sob, she had really liked the Doctor "don't you dare take the rest of them down with you" she whimpered as her chains slackened and her legs were forced to take her weight. Lilly tried to harden herself against what was to be her death and only the beginning of Keller's torture.
"Bravo lieutenant, brave words from a brave woman" the big man started dragging her across the stone floor "it's a shame Keller's not as strong as you are" Jennifer sobbed in agreement.
"But you're wrong" Lilly mustered all her faith, hoping that it would be heard "Keller may not be trained but the knowledge that what she says could endanger the lives of people she respects and loves will stop her from betraying them" Keller watched as the man threw back his head and laughed.
"I-I-I'm not sure I can do this Lilly" Jennifer admitted to Lilly in a hushed voice
Time to change tactic then; "Jen, if you don't your friends will die. John, Ronon, Teyla, even Rodney. You know what they're like, they'll all fight bravely and they'll all willingly fall in battle protecting the people in the city. Carson will die in the infirmary while trying to save someone and Woolsey will be found as he hides under his desk" her throat closed for a moment as Boss switched hands to open the door "All dead because of you" Lilly finally managed, hating herself for saying it but Keller was one of the kindest and most stubborn person she had ever met. Using those qualities to cause her pain hurt Lilly more than she could tell but she knew Keller would understand eventually. Lilly squinted as the sunlight hurt her eyes, and despite her best efforts her heart sped up in panic as they neared the kennels.
Keller understood what was going to happen to her, she had treated torture victims before, but her resolve shook when she heard Lieutenant Lilly Barker scream and her tears fell as the fear became too much. Only a sliver of hope remained; SGA could find her, save her. She only had to be strong till then.
Poor Lilly, I didn't plan for her existence but it does make Keller's situation that little more daunting doesn't it?
We'll get to hear from SGA-1 next chapter!
TTFN
