Darius's Point Of View

I am standing guard at the door to the cell block. It is a cold night, and I am sure that my shivering is not what the medics would consider 'healthy'. That I left my winter coat back at the barracks only makes this worse. I will probably have sniffles before this is all over. But I try to guard the cell block as many nights as I can, to ensure my friend is safe.

And soon enough I see why this is necessary.

A large mob of people are approaching the cell block again. This time there are almost six times as many as came last time. They are holding crude weapons and tools, and they seem angry. However, unlike the last one they are not yet shouting or vocalizing threats. They are just standing there eerily and kind of creepily.

I scan the crowd, and to my disgust too many of the faces belong to people who I know from the now defunct Hob. Thankfully I do not see Thom there, but that's not much respite.

Trying my best to keep the shivering out of my throat, I address the throng.

"What are you doing here?"

One of them, apparently the self appointed leader, answered my question. His answer was exactly what I expected as well as what I feared.

"We've come for the rapist."

I need to clench my teeth for a moment to avoid barking out my answer, as tensions are high enough as it is.

"Gale. Is. Not. A. Rapist. Why the hell can you not at least wait for a trial?"

Another voice in the mob answers this time.

"We do not need a trial, we already know he did it."

Ok, time for plan B.

"Back of right now."

None of them move so much as an inch.

"I said, back the fuck off or I will blow your damn brains out!"

They back up one or two steps, but it feels for some reason like they're bracing for something.

Why is one of them smiling?

Suddenly I am knocked over by one man standing behind me. Another grabs my gun and tries to wrestle it from my grip. How the hell did they sneak up on me!?

When this happens, the horde rushes towards me with horrific speed.

Gale!

My thoughts rush to the locked door to the cell block which is standing behind me, and my head panics as I search in wild desperation for some way out of it. I am able to shove the two attackers off me for a few seconds, and I open fire into the mob. I do not care if these are my neighbors; I am not about to let them take Gale from me!

My bullets rip through those at the front, felling several of them. They lay in pools of blood and I have no doubt that if they are not dead now they will still die in the night. My adrenaline is pumping however, so I do not take notice of this.

Sadly, the mob is too close to me and I am only able to fire for a few seconds before they are on me. Four or five of them, I have no idea who, grab my assault rifle like an octopus of arms. They quickly rip it from he grip, and before I can reach for it another one pushes me on the ground.

Soon they are all around me kicking and punching and clawing and bashing at me. In desperation, I throw my arms over my face to protect my brain. Soon several others who are not focused on me are somehow rushing through the door to the cell block.

"No! Please! Don't!"

I can do nothing but scream, but I'm not screaming for just myself.

This can't be happening! This can't be happening!

Eventually my vision begins to lessen and I feel unable to stay awake. As my mind slip I can almost hear one man's shout.

"Lets string him up!"

No! Please! He's innocent!

I want to say these things, but my mouth will not move.