A/n
I'M BACK HA HA HA HA. I would like to say that I'm sorry for the time that you have had to wait for this chapter, yet due to the length it is understandable. This is the longest chapter I have ever written (12000+ words). First to the readers, if YOU HAVE a problem with torture, beatings or anything of the dark type like, Then I recommend you skip this chapter as it has those in it. This is a darker chapter than the ones previous, I say it now. In any even I will recap what happens in this chapter in the next chapter. To everyone else please enjoy the chapter and take the time to review.
Chapter 29: My Time in a New Hell
===Saber's POV===
I woke up slowly. The first thing I noticed was I could not move my arms and legs. As my mind became clearer I recalled having experienced this same feeling before, oh dear this feels oddly and rather familiar like my encounter with them before arriving at Warfang … I opened my eyes and found myself looking at the ground moving past me. I twisted from side to side only to find I was bound to a wood pole. It was then the scent hit me and it took a great deal of effort not to hurl. The scent was that of apes, no doubt about that. Do these apes ever bathe … I would guess not?! I was trying not to choke on the smell they put off for it was horrendous. It was while I was in my thoughts that I felt a bump on the pole and I heard a voice.
"It would appear that you are awake then."
I twisted as best I could to get the view of the owner of the voice, it was vaguely familiar.
"Turn the pole."
The pole I was bound to, began to spin and now I was looking at the sky. I brought my chin to my collar bone and saw that the owner of the voice was a monkey, one I had met. I sighed in frustration as much of acceptance and let out a whisper.
"Exis."
This was a very unexpected turn of events I didn't see coming. The phrase that comes to mind in this current situation I find myself in would be, I am 'going to hell in a hand basket', whoopty freaking doo for me. Exis simply stared at me with a neutral facial expression. I was beginning to dislike the silence that was present.
"So, I have to admit, I am impressed of you managed to catch me, slightly."
Exis continued to gaze at me, but I saw the smallest movement of her eyebrows rising. What I had said had peeked her interest, if only slightly but none the less, I may be able to work with this.
"How so?"
I definitely could work with this, I thought about my current standing. I had her talking and if I played my cards right I could get some possibly valuable information. Okay play it cool and deliver the flattery in abundance. You got this, go me.
"Well, you actually captured me. First, Mara has been trying to catch me for a few weeks now and she has had no success in that. Then, Shiek tried a few days ago and failed. Out of the three of you, I was expecting that Shiek would be the first to catch me given enough time, as he is the most tactically minded of you three. I guess that this proves 'you can't judge a book by its cover' as the phrase goes. You striking me from behind was rather effective, since I could not see it coming."
I had expected her to smirk or something of the like to preen her pride; yet she did nothing of the sort. Exis's face was expressionless, yet she still put out an aura of coldness and death. She was an 'S' case type of assassin and she didn't need to prove it, she showed it much better.
"Yes I know about your victory over Shiek. It is quite surprising to find out, as he does not admit his failures to others if he does not have too. You keep proving yourself more similar to us with each skirmish. It is very fascinating."
She was presenting an interesting quality I had not seen previously. She was showing herself to be a type of observationist or someone that takes the time to study and observe an opponent, much like myself. I had not expected this as we had only met once and that one time I had been around her, was our first encounter.
The initial impression of her was that Exis is cold and emotionless overall. She was an expert with using a staff and so the staff was her weapon of choice. Having battled her, where she had literally broken up the ground within a six foot diameter by just thrusting an end of her staff into the ground had proven that to me. I would rather not find out what that kind of force would do to my body or anything else for that matter. However, the feature that stood out the most was her eyes. Her eyes crimson as blood, when I looked into them I saw emptiness. If the phrase 'the eyes are the window to the soul' was true, then Exis soul was dark as a killer, no question. In short Exis had the eyes that were the same as a serial killer and one that has and most likely still is the active serial killer type at that. It is for that reason, why knowing that she was part of an assassination group is not hard to believe at all, in fact it was to be expected.
Now seeing that she was also an observationist; I was taking stock of recent events. I had the feeling for the last few days, that someone had been watching me. I could now see it had been Exis; she had been watching me and studying me for the last few days. I would hazard a guess she had started sometime before I had fought Shiek. If that were the case, then I had to admit that she had even been able to completely elude my senses, which was rather troubling to me as Mara and Shiek had not completely been able to elude my notice where she had. That presented a clear fact I didn't like, that is when it came to stealth and concealment; she was good! I had completely underestimated her and I was paying for it right now. I sighed at my new understanding I had now acquired.
"It would seem I have underestimated you Exis; I admit it shamefully; I have made that mistake. I will not do so in the future, rest assured Exis."
She cocked her head to the side slightly, kind of like she was curious about my statement.
"Oh, is that some kind of threat?"
I met her gaze and gave her a cold glare of my own.
"No, it is a promise!"
She harrumphed at my declaration, and then she gave a short but sharp tap with one of her feet before leaping off the log. The next thing I know the world began to spin and after a couple of seconds I was back to the view of the ground in front of me. The log had been spun a hundred eighty degrees again. Exis could have just said that our conversation was done instead of spinning the log around. I sighed; well this is one hell of a crap shoot I now find myself in this time.
===Hours later===
I was starting to feel pain in my wrists and lower legs. The rubbing the ropes or whatever had been used to bind me to this log had rubbed badly. The rest of my body was not much better as I had been feeling the cramps coming on from being kept in the same position for a while. I then heard a shout from Exis and the apes carrying the log I was bound to came to a stop. There came another barked order, but not from Exis and not a familiar voice. I heard a blade being drawn in my near vicinity. That sound didn't comfort me in the slightest. I had a couple of seconds to wonder what the apes would use that blade for before I heard a whoosh of the blade cutting through the air. I found out what the blade was for as I fell to the ground in a heap after my bindings were cut by the said blade. I had little strength to work with due to my rough handling by the apes so I couldn't get to my feet. Two pairs of hands grabbed me roughly under my arms and lifted me off the ground and I got a full view to my new surroundings.
I was in a valley that had little greenery in it at all. The sheer number of apes that were here in this valley was huge, thousands perhaps, which worried me. At the far end of the valley there was some kind of city that seemed to be built in the remnants of ancient ruins. By the sight of the great number of apes that were here and the way they seemed to be set up outside the city in an army like camp. They were preparing for something big. I wouldn't consider myself a genius, but it doesn't take a genius to see the apes were preparing for a war and I had a good idea of who their opponents were going to be. I was starting to realize the importance of a recent event I had missed. The ambush, in which Spyro and Cynder had been attacked, now made much more sense. They had been disabled so that they would most likely not be around Warfang for a while. If they were there, the both would not be able to help as much as if they weren't injured. As for me I would guess I would be called the wild card in this as the apes didn't know very much about me and I had proven that I could take them with relative ease. One thing about the current situation was clear; I was in trouble and I was not going to be alone in this for very long; if that army of apes was anything to go by that is.
"Well this sight of so many ugly mugs is one I could have done without."
I felt a fist hit me in my gut and knock the wind out of me and got me wheezing. I gasped for breath feeling new waves of pain surging through me. I saw another ape about to swing his fist to hit me, but before he did another command was barked from somewhere outside of my field of vision. The ape that was about to punch me stopped, disappointment still set in its face, then the two apes who were carrying me continued forward into the valley with the rest of the group of apes following behind them.
I had to assume that I was being taken to the one in charge, most likely the 'Ape King' I have heard a little about. In fact I knew just bits and pieces about this figure, the 'Ape King'. Most things that I had on this guy been rumors and what I knew about the previous leader of the apes; the ape king Gaul. This figure that had taken over the position that Gaul's death had vacated, was quite mysterious. They apparently controlled the apes by fear and something like some kind of brainwashing. Yet that was hard to believe since to brainwash someone, they have to have a brain first and I see that as a questionable thing with the apes. Well I guess I will be meeting this king soon enough and I will see what this leader is like.
After a sizable distance we were approaching a structure that was noticeably bigger than the city in front of it. I was carried into the interior of the palace like structure. I felt some feeling coming back to my body as I was recovering, but still nowhere near enough to take on this group and those who are in close proximity to me. I will have to see how this plays on for now, since I have no prayer at fighting my way out as I was. We entered a large room and I was unceremoniously thrown forward onto the floor. I decided to play the weak prisoner for the moment and so I fell forward and crumpled to the floor. I was down face first, but I was still able to use my peripheral vision to see some of what was going on. I still felt pain all over my body, but it was not as bad as I was portraying. Exis strode forward and bowed to the throne that I assumed was in front of me, but I was currently faced down into the marble like floor.
"My liege, I have brought the odd one as you ordered."
There was silence as the reply to Exis; I assumed that the silence reply was used by the ape king to signal a dismissal to the apes and Exis. There was shuffling as the rest of the apes including Exis left the room. This left me and the ape king alone and I did not like that idea right now.
"... You can drop the act."
I felt shock at that voice. First they knew I was making it appear I was hurt more than I really was. I lifted my head to look at the 'Ape King' and confirmed the second reason.
"You're ... a female?!"
The leader of the apes, the one that was making the apes more successful as of late was a female! I gave her a once over, by her figure she wasn't an ape, but more of a monkey like the silent killers. However she was taller than Mara or Exis, yet I was taller than her. As I quickly calculated her height it figured her to stand at almost four feet tall; that was close to double the height of the monkeys she seemed to be like. Her fur was the color of sand and was obviously taken better care of with work than the other apes take the time to. She had a long tail much like Shiek; I had learned to watch that limb they have that we humans no longer do. Her face was ... almost human, it was not like a monkey's where the lower half of the face juts out noticeably because of their jaw supposedly, her jaw did only slightly. She also had thin arrow markings on the center of her forehead and also on her cheeks. Maybe they were some sort of tribal markings. I have learned not to ask the question 'why' when it comes to the apes; it is best and easier not to ask. I stopped at her eyes that were a bright shade of magenta. Overall she is not bad looking now that I ... WHAT AM I THINKING! This is ... this feels so ... wrong and degrading on so many different levels! I was thinking that a monkey was good looking; that was an insult to my male pride at the very least, even if it was only for a second. Curse you evolution; why do you have to be so dang good at changing things. I mean granted, I as a human being am farther along the evolutionary path than she is physically, but she is much like what science would guess early humans were ... never mind. I have much higher standards than that, I have qualities I want in a girl before I even consider her like 'that'. Her looks were only part of the problem; her voice had a quality in it. Maybe in the tone, that starts to make sense in a way I didn't like at all. I thought back to one of my original suspicions of how the leader figure was controlling the masses. Her voice was having an effect on me and I thought if I could be affected then the apes most certainly could be. This one fact would complicate things in ways even I couldn't predict.
"Indeed I am and I must say I have been looking forward to meeting you for some time, human as I believe you call yourself. It is clear we share a common ancestry at some time in the past, as we look similar to a degree."
I kept my mouth shut tightly; I didn't trust what would come out of it right now. I forced myself to focus and ignore her tone of voice, for it was not right. She was trying to trick me for some reason. If there is one thing I hate more than most, it is being manipulated by someone else. She had gotten up from the chair or throne and had started to walk towards me.
"Not feeling talkative are you? That is a pity; there are several matters I would like to discuss with someone like you."
She stopped above me and looked down at me and smiled slightly. I felt my left eye beginning to twitch and that happened when I felt something was off. The smile may have seemed to a degree friendly, but I knew it was not in the slightest. She was deceptive yet she could pull off the nice appearance believably well. She was honey tongued, but I would say she had subtle venom. At least that is what I would guess by how she controls the apes so effortlessly. She snapped her fingers and a few apes entered the room.
"Well since you do not want to talk, there is no reason for you to be here. But worry not; accommodations have been made for you. I hope you will find them hospitable."
The apes pick me up and take me out of the room and then out of the palace of the apes as I was coming to call it. I was taken a short distance that was still in the city part of the valley, to a small one room building. The second we had entered, I only saw black before the apes threw me further in and I crashed and rolled before I came to a stop at the opposite wall of the door. I heard a heavy door close and then the sound of a bar of some sort being slid into place to lock the door. I now was locked in a pitch black cell. I waved my right hand in front of my face, yet I couldn't see my hand waving in front of me, I sighed. If that wasn't bad enough this cell was in the middle of a city of apes. To make my chances even worse in this the fact the said city was surrounded by a huge army of apes as well didn't help me.
I could not get to my feet, so I crawled around the room. I started to feel around my cell for anything I could work with. I really don't know how long I did this since in this cell it is always dark, so I can't calculate the passage of time. After a while I felt an object and picked it up. I felt it and I determined that it was most likely wood. Well if it was I could get a look around my cell. I used the fire element and light the object. The room was filled with light the instant I lit the object that I found was indeed wood. I looked around the room and started to think that the light didn't change the bland look that darkness had given before. The room was a rough cube shape that was fifteen feet in length and width. The walls were made of rough stone. I looked up and found this structure had a peaked roof due to the fact that the middle of the ceiling was higher than the ceiling at the walls. The center of the ceiling was twelve feet high and was ten feet at the edges at the walls. There would support beams three in total that were perpendicular to the door. The beams were set so that there was a distance of four feet between the beams and one to two feet between the two outside beams from the walls. The floor was nothing more than dirt ground. I sighed after taking in my surroundings.
"Here I was expecting five star accommodations."
I said this to myself sarcastically.
"... To whom do I complain about this crap they call service?"
I crawled over to the wall opposite of the door and sat with my back to it. I let out a breath and closed my eyes.
"What a day, I started with lessons from Spyro and now I end out in a dark cell. ... Am I in hell?"
I heard a dark voice I was not fond of answer in my mind.
"... Not yet ..."
I rolled my eyes at that reply. I really didn't need that sociopath's two cents, especially at this time.
"Shut up you, I don't need your crap right now."
There was silence inside this cell and out as well. I decided to give myself a checking over after the events of the day. After I had checked my body over I knew this was going to be hell. The skin on my wrist and ankles had been pretty much rubbed off and was raw and had bled, but now was caked with blood. The blow I had gotten to the back of my head still hurt, though thankfully had not fractured my skull. I was also still recovering from my previous injuries and what had happened to me today, had not helped me at all. I put out the makeshift torch; I fell asleep shortly after checking myself over and woke up to the same darkness I had gone to sleep to. I stretched my limbs and body experimentally, nothing felt broken or out of place. I got to my feet and stood, but due to harsh pain that shot through my lower legs, sat back down. Well so starts my plan to escape this hell. I knew I had to get away, but I fear should I rush my escape I would not get another chance for a long while. I needed to be careful and patient in this. I hated to wait, but biding my time will pay off with my escape. I would use the time I was locked in here to my advantage. If there is one thing I knew in a situation like this; it wasn't to give your prisoner long periods of time to themselves, it never ends well. I was going to prove that point and make the apes and monkeys regret giving me time to myself. I stood back up and blocked out the pain and started to practice martial arts, taking it easy so that I didn't further hurt myself.
After a long period of time I heard multiple apes approaching my cell. I quickly put out the fire I had built and then lay against the wall. I didn't want to give them any reason to suspect me of anything. I see no need to let them know I was planning something until I go through with it. I heard the bar I would guess from its place and the door opened. I shielded my eyes as the light of the outside was much brighter than the fire I had used for light. My eyes had adapted to the dimmer light rather than the sunlight in a very short period. A few ape stood in the doorway now and so I set my face into an expression of passive resistance. One of the apes came forward a few steps and look down at me.
"You lucky, Leader want you alive. We here, bring food."
They put down a roughly made tray that was more like a wooden box. This said 'tray box' had what looked like food on it. I stayed exactly where I was and didn't move. Why react to the apes when it would only give them an excuse to stay longer. I really wanted them to leave me alone. The apes' company was really grating in so many different ways. The apes huffed and laughed as they shut the door and locked it once again. I moved forward and relit the fire and took a look at what had been brought. On the tray or in the box was ... well I really have little idea what was in this box. When it came to dragons, thus far the food they and myself ate, was somewhat recognizable, non-dangerous looking and more than edible. If you compare that idea to this stuff in the box that looks ... like garbage honestly, I was beginning to wonder if this was an attempt to torture me. There was a makeshift bowl of some type of gruel that smelled rather questionable to me. There were pieces of meat that looked like it was taken from a dumpster back home or possibly even worse. No vegetables or fruits anywhere in the box as I looked around in it. The liquid that was in a cup ... at least I think the wood cylinder was a cup; the color worried me. I sniffed the cup cautiously and jerked back with the first whiff. The contents of the cup smelled foul and it just reeked. There was no way I could mistake that particular smell as I had been forced to smell it for years without relief. The apes had given me alcoholic liquid of some kind. I could not bring myself to drink that stuff, even the smell of alcohol is revolting to me. I don't want to taste it at any time in my life. My uncle had been unknowingly teaching me the evils of alcohol for the last eight years at least, most likely more. I sighed at seeing this garbage that the apes call food. This is a new low for me in my life and that was saying something for me.
I was mulling over this crap I was being served, then felt something cold hit my forehead. I look up and then notice the sound of rain. ... God, my faith in you is now restored ... at least slightly! You keep this up and we'll talk further, anyways thank you for this gift, it is appreciated. I took the cup and threw of the liquid that it started with, used the wind element to clean the alcohol out and put under the center of the cell. Next I focused the wind element into a small ball shape much like a bullet you would use in a musket type gun. I formed my right hand into a gun and pointed up. I 'shot' the wind bullet and got a small hole right above the cup. Now I looked in satisfaction at the small, but steady stream of water coming down through the roof. That stream was now trickling into the cup. My throat was dry and parched by this time and it felt worse as I watched the cup filling slowly. However, when it had filled completely, I took the cup and gulped down the water. The cool water felt wonderful, the best feeling I had since I been brought here to this hell. I put the cup back to let it fill again, I took everything in the box out then took the box and replaced the cup that had become full in the length of time I took to unload the box. The box was now to collect water I can drink at any time I would need. I next went back to the rest of the food and took a closer look at the meat. It looked kind of like overly burnt chicken, but it had come from a bigger animal than a chicken. The smell worried me slightly as it was much like charcoal. I took a bite and gagged for a second, I forced down my gag reflex, before I forcefully swallowed. The meat didn't just look like garbage, but it tasted like it too! No … scratch that this 'meat' tastes worse than garbage, if that was even possible and the food had proven that so far. How do the apes stomach this crap? Hell how do they get past their gag reflex … that's if they have one at all to begin with. However, in my present situation I really can't afford to be picky, not if I want to get through this. It is still technically food I guess, so better force it down. I turned to the gruel, hoping that at least, it would not taste as bad as the meat or worse. I took a sip of the gruel and it tasted pretty much like dirty dishwater. Yes, I have tasted dishwater, thanks to my uncle. That poor excuse for a guardian forced me to as a punishment once. Due to that action of the douche bag I have never forgotten the taste of dishwater because of that experience.
After I gotten past my gag reflex and had forced down 'the meal'; I laid back and clutched my stomach in pain. My said stomach at this time was making its protest known at the quality of food I had just eaten and its displeasure of it. Its protests were something I was unable to ignore as the pain of its complaint was not just limited to my stomach, but was spreading to my whole gut.
"Worst ... meal ... (urp) I ... have ever ... (BURP) ... had!"
Now I have absolutely nothing against burps in the slightest, this is me as the Master of Burps speaking. However these burps were horrible and just not good at all. They were not meant for fun or jest, but for my digestive system announcing its revulsion at me. The burps tasted worse than the garbage I had forced down and that was really bad. I was trying not to throw up the garbage I had gotten down. I needed some type of nourishment to function. The garbage may not be the ideal means of nourishment, but it was still undeniably nourishment. I told myself this reason and started to repeat it as a mantra to myself. Through this, I managed with this to keep the food down, though with a great difficulty.
===Some time later===
I opened my eyes once again to the darkness I had acclimated to. The one current difference now however, was my digestive system had finally stopped complaining by now. My stomach had finally processed the crap I forced down and gotten the job done. It had been horrible; I had felt the crap I had consumed go the whole way through my digestive system. I focused and brought my mind to bear to the current situation at hand. I lit the piece of wood again and began to think about the things I needed to do to make an escape feasible. First I needed to make this cell at least a livable space. This place was not really what I would classify as a livable space, and I needed to do this as soon as possible. Next I needed more supplies to work with, for my plan I was developing. I would most likely would have to steal ... I mean borrow with no intention of giving back for a while, if at all. The final step to my plan I would need to do was a bit of a problem. The problem of my plan was I had little knowledge of the layout of this place. That fact would need to change immensely if I was to escape from here. As I thought about the things that would need to be done, I began to come of a rough plan to accomplish my goal of escape. The livable conditions should be easy enough to change for the better, it would just be somewhat time consuming. The borrowing would need some work, but I would need to wait to start that task. I would need to be outside to make attempts at an acquisition of objects or that is what I am calling the activity. It makes me feel much less guilty, since I am the 'good guy' type of guy and stealing just does not feel right. That of course doesn't mean that I won't do it if I have too, he he he. I would most likely have to do the acquiring on the trips back to my cell from wherever I would be taken to. Learning the lay of this place would be the hardest of the three points. Well I have my work cut out for me, then time to get to work.
I got up slowly and then decided to get to work. I thought that making a latrine was the first order of business for improving the living conditions. After all cleanliness is necessity for life to be livable. Out of my entire arsenal of elements I have, which one would do the best and most efficient job? The ice element I think would be the best for that out all of the elements I could use. I would have loved to have use of the earth element for this, as it would be perfect for the task. However, as I have no access to it at the moment, that is not an option. So, ice would have to do in its place. It took me four tries to form an icicle, but I managed it. I then, started jabbing at one of the corners on the wall that had the door so that I could make a hole for a toilet. Sure the toilet will not be fancy, but it will be functional and that is what's important. I say a toilet is better than no toilet, even if a simple one that is just a hole. After what I guessed to be an hour, whether it had been an hour or not, I couldn't tell. When you are in a place where the light quality doesn't change the concept of the passage of time doesn't get noticed. I finally finished my toilet hole, as I had broken out to beyond the cell with the small tunnel I had carved. I smelled the fresher air from the outside. I still couldn't see anything as the tunnel pointed down into a dark chasm. Now that I had 'facilities' to work with I was one step closer. My plan would work, one step at a time, baby steps that is the key to this. It was then I heard the sounds of a group approaching and I quickly put out the fire and took up my position of sitting with my back against the wall facing the door. The bar or whatever they use to lock the door scraped as it was removed and the door opened. It was night as the light was dimmer than earlier, but I had only a few seconds to take that in before some of the apes moved in and grabbed me roughly and carried me out of the cell.
The apes then proceeded to haul me through the city into their army camp. For me to say I was beginning to worry is an understatement. The second the apes that were hauling me entered the army camp, many apes started to screech and scream at the sight of me. The screeches and screams weren't of fear like apes had done around me before, but it was of anger and hatred. I would guess this was the equivalent of jeering for apes. All I could say was I didn't like it at all. As I was hauled pass many apes I would hear them threaten me with such things as that they would kill me or drink my blood. Now my worries heighten at hearing some of this, not the threats themselves, as I could defend myself. I was expecting that kind of thing from the apes. After all the things I have done, I would be surprise if the apes didn't hate me. My biggest worry was the odds I was now facing. I was now in a camp that housed most likely over a thousand apes and all of them wanted a go at me. I may be good at fighting, but even I would be suicidal to go into a fight with those odds and expect to win. Knowing the apes, even as little as I do, I have a feeling that they will not fight fair or honorably. I had a hunch that I, in the very near future, was going to be thrown into that type of fight; my hunches are very rarely wrong.
When the apes carrying me had reached an open area in the camp they stopped and threw me forward to the ground. I got up slowly looking around at my current surroundings. Apes had formed a large circle around me, probably a hundred feet in diameter. There were many of the apes still jeering at me; some even more so than before. I settled into a defensive stance; my mind coming into focus on the imminent fight. Then there was a bark, some kind of order I would guess and the apes quieted down.
"Kee kee kee, you look like you are ready for the fight of your life."
I know that voice, I turned only to see Mara. Of all times I have to see her again, does it have to be now?
"Well I have to say Mara; it is evermore displeasure to see you, and now what is this all about?"
"Kee kee kee, you are the evening entertainment."
That was definitely NOT what I was hoping or wanting to hear. I know I am normally one on giving others a chance, so that I will not hate them. However Mara, I will say this, you officially are on my hate list. This is turning out to be one hell of an experience for me. Why do my hunches have to be so dang accurate?
"Kee, now remember our leader wants him alive that is all, kee kee kee."
Oh crap crap craparoo, alive she says that makes things even 'better' for everyone other than me. That's extremely vague on what apes don't get to do to me very soon. If anything all that says is that the apes can beat me to their hearts' content as long as I survive, regardless of condition. This is going to suck badly for me, isn't it? God I thought we were beginning to have a deal going, an understanding if you will; when exactly did that do a one eighty? I mentally sighed. It would seem I am as usual; left to fend for myself with my own devices. Well I see no need to hold back on them then.
The sound of some kind of bell rang out. This must have been the signal for the fight to begin, for five apes rushed forward at me. The first ape to reach me I shoved my right elbow hard into his chest. He gasped in pain and dropped to the ground. The second I thrust my left hand, palm up at his face; an audible crack told me I had broken his nose and he collapsed to the ground in pain. Ape number three I gave an upward axe kick, which connected to his jaw and sent him flying. Number four; I used a round house kick to force him back into the crowd of apes. The final of the five, I side stepped and hit him with a hard chop to his neck and he dropped to the ground like the other apes that had attacked me first.
The apes seemed to become enraged at this, so much so that it was driving them into a frenzy. What I would not give for a weapon right now. If I had a weapon I would still probably lose the fight, but I would whoop a lot more apes before that event occurred. My disabling the five apes seemed to act as a trigger. Now a great number of apes like a flood surged forward. I didn't bother to count them as they just kept coming. I was well aware I was doomed to lose this fight before it started. However, even though I knew this fact, that's not to say, I was going to go down without fighting, taking as many apes down as I could. I was doing okay, but then the flow of the fight changed. I knew I was done, when I felt a club smash into my upper left leg. I hear an audible crack and felt extreme magnitudes of pain shoot through my left leg and I had difficulty standing. I had most likely just gotten my leg broken with at least a fractured bone, possibly a compound fracture, which would be far worse. This development complicates things quite a bit. I sunk to the ground, my left leg unable to support my weight. The apes were quick to take advantage of this and set about to beating me all over my body.
===after the fight===
The fight, if you could call it that had finally ended. I would have called it more of myself getting the crap beaten out of me by a very large number of apes, but that's just me, the victim. I had managed to stay awake through it all, though it was a challenge. That was before the apes were told to stop beating me up that is. There was not a part of my body that wasn't cut or bruised and that didn't hurt, that I could tell. I don't think I have ever gotten this bad of a beating in my life, not even my uncle had beaten me this bad. My uncle had gotten closer than anyone else to this kind of beating, but still.
As the two apes were carrying me back to my cell I found myself with a golden opportunity. There was loose stuff and crap of all different kinds within my reach. They were just calling to me, begging to be taken, or that's what I say was happening. It was time to work on step two of my escape plan. Anyways, I began to swipe and pick up as much as I could without being noticed by my couriers. I hid the items I picked up anywhere I could, whether that was under my clothes or otherwise. When the apes had brought me to my cell and put me down in it, instead of throwing me in. They left and closed the door and locked it, leaving me alone in my cell. I had to admit I was surprised they didn't notice some of the bulges of the items I had picked up on the way back to my cell. I was once again thankful that the apes were dimmer than dim and because of that were very easy to fool. That worked very well in my favor.
I untucked my shirt and seven different items fell out onto the floor. I used my hands to push the items I had hid in my pants to come out and five more items fell to the floor. I looked over the items I had acquired and had to admit for just picking up random items in my reach, this was not a bad first haul. First and important at this time was two straight boards along with some kind of leather like rope. I immediately set about to doing the best to fix my left leg. I let out a hiss as I moved the bone in my left leg back into its proper place. I needed to have my broken bone heal correctly if I want a chance to a successful escape. I then, pulled up my pant leg up and put the two boards on either side of me upper left leg and used the rope to make a splint to hold my broken bone in place as it mended. I pulled my pant leg down so that the makeshift splint would be less noticed if it was at all. I then returned back to the pile of items to see what else I had gotten. I saw I had gotten; a small roll of some type of cloth material, three fairly good size pieces of wood, which was good as my original piece of wood was almost gone. Back to the pile; something that looked like a ladle, a length of something that looked like wire or cable, how the apes have something like that is beyond my understanding. There was also some kind of herbs, I would need some time to figure out what type of herbs, but that could possibly be helpful. I saw a roll of material that when I gave it a shake unrolled into a kind of bedroll, now that I will like to use; granted it may be thin, but it is better than nothing. The last item I had acquired was some paper, or at least that is what I thought until I unfolded it completely. It was a kind of map on the respect that it gave a rough layout of the valley, this item was the best find I had at the moment for it would help in my escape plan. After all, as I have learned in my life, 'it is not what job an object is made for, but what function you can find for the object'. Ah improvisation is an amazing thing!
I crawled around hiding the items in the places I had been making for this purpose. The reason being, that if apes came in unexpectedly they would not find them. I then, took the 'bedroll' and lay down and quickly fell asleep with a smile set on my face. I was making progress on getting out of here.
===some time later===
I woke up to the darkness again or the place known as my cell. I stretched and to my surprise found I didn't hurt anywhere near what I had expected to. I lit wood with the fire element to have light and looked myself over. I was shocked, baffled and puzzled all at the same time. I should have been black, blue, purple or some different coloration from all the bruising I had to have developed from my beating last night from the apes. Yet there was nothing at all off color. I untied the rope that held the splint in place and felt my leg. This was simply not possible, my leg was broken last I checked and now it is well along the path of mending?! Okay I may not be an expert in the capabilities of the human body's healing factor, but I know enough that bones take more than hours for the mending process to make noticeable progress. Yet my left leg was to my best estimation, more than half way along in mending. I am not complaining or anything, this is just weird and illogical. At least this is not a stroke of my bad luck; I don't know how much more of that I can handle before it kills me.
"It is not really strange that you have healed, it is part of what you are Saber."
I looked around, but there was no one there. That was … weird. I have had the problem of voices of sorts in my mind, but this is different than that.
"... I could swear that someone was just speaking to me, but there is no one here but me. ... Maybe this is the first sign of me losing my mind, however I don't think I am insane, at least not yet anyways. If you don't think you're insane it is very likely you're not. Then again now that I think about it that voice sounded kind of like ... oh what was his name ... Koren if I recall correctly."
"Yes that is my name."
I flinched and looked around again. It was the same voice as the one that had just spoken.
"Okay once can be written off as a coincidence, twice is something else. Okay ... uh ... Koren, very funny, but where are you?"
There was silence for a full minute, I know since I counted sixty seconds before I got an answer.
"Um ... I really don't know how to answer you in a way you would understand or believe me."
I sighed at that answer.
"Try me."
There was another period of silence longer than the one before.
"Well ... I guess you can say I am in your mind, but ... that is not completely true, yet it is not completely wrong either."
I tried to process what Koren had just told me. It didn't make any really sense; 'he was in my mind yet not in my mind' is a contradiction in itself as a statement. In other words it made completely no sense whatsoever.
"Uh ... Koren what you say doesn't make sense."
"I know, but that is the best way I can think to explain it. I really don't understand how this works, I just know it does."
I mulled over what he said and put it aside for the moment.
"You said that me healing far faster than I normally would is a part of what I am?"
"Yes that is the idea."
I felt my left eye twitch in annoyance.
"Care to elaborate that said idea?"
"No idea why, it just is."
I sighed again. Well Koren it would appear would be little help of how it was possible that I could heal from most minor and non-major injuries. Well at least this surprise was a helpful one for me.
My situation, though it may be grim for several different reasons, was beginning to look up to an extent and I'll take that. I kind of had felt a dislike to the large amount of time to myself. I surprised myself by this, for I had in the human world preferred for the most part to be left to my own devices and means. Yet here I feel myself missing those who had been around me recently and had become my friends. I have always had a problem making lasting friendships, I stick out in such a way people have a tendency to avoid me.
Hence had someone told me that I would be in this kind of situation weeks ago, I would have thought they were crazy. This kind of adventure is what you would expect in a fairy tale, not reality. Yet it had been almost three weeks, if I was estimating right, since I had come to the dragon realm; a place that itself would be considered fiction. The dragon realm had rules that defied those of earth and logic as I know it; yet made perfect sense here. Then there was the inhabitance of this realm, which were just as fantastic as they are stuff of legend to humans. There was Spyro the 'famous' purple dragon and my first friend here in this realm. The 'go lucky' type and has, unlike me good luck; he was one I got along with easily. Then there was Seth the shadow dragon, loyal to his friends though he tends to need a small push to move forward as he is somewhat shy and cautious. The black dragoness Cynder, even with her dark past that I have heard only pieces of, she has a strong heart; even if we don't always see eye to eye or get along. Then the fun loving ice dragoness Cyra, if there was someone who could brighten a room, it was Cyra. She is always positive and optimistic; how she is, I will never know. I missed all of them, I had been with them for a short period, but I have grown fond of them. I was pained to admit that I was even beginning to miss that annoying dragonfly, Sparx. I sighed to myself at this thought.
"This is definitely a new low for me; for me to miss the company of IC."
===some time later===
I heard a group of apes coming towards my cell. I quickly hid away the map I had been studying for my plan. I had barely gotten to my sitting position with my back to the wall opposite wall of the door, when I heard the scrap of the bar being removed. The door swung open, it was daytime as the bright light came into the dark room. I covered my eyes to shield them from the bright light I have been denied for a while. I heard someone come forward through the door. I still couldn't stop shielding my eyes as my eyes were having trouble adapting to the difference of light I was getting. I heard a huff and instantly knew two things; first the one in front of me was a monkey due to the fact that the huff was closer to my level and apes don't do that. Second, this is a monkey I had not met yet. I didn't like meeting the last three monkeys I had, so I don't think I will like this one either. After a few minutes I was able to put my hand down and look at my visitors. In front of me was a monkey with fur the color of slate stone. Their eyes were a dark magenta and were slanted slightly much like humans that are of Asian descent, unlike Mara, Exis or Shiek who didn't have that feature. Their gaze that they were giving me was a piercing one; I was beginning to be wary of this monkey. They were as I estimated to be about two feet and eight inches in height. The said monkey also noted that they had thicker fur than the other three I had met. I had learned to note as much as I could with these monkey, for no detail is insignificant with them. It can literally be the difference between life and near death experiences.
"My my, you are not what I expected from what I have heard about you."
The voice implied that this monkey was a female; her voice put forth a feeling of calm confidence and also had tones of sultriness. I met her gaze and didn't look away from her.
"Well, you're new and rude to boot too. So who are you and where did you exactly get you information about me?"
The female monkey took a step back and bowed slightly.
"My name is Sheras. Mara and Shiek have talked about you, Mara more than Shiek."
I rolled my eyes at that. Of course her information would be from those two, figures.
"Okay, it is a displeasure to meet you Sheras. When it comes to your sources of information, Mara is completely obsessed over me, so I would say her view is biased. Shiek is … I would say bias since he lost to me recently in a fight, so he is holding a grudge and is embarrassed as well I would imagine."
Sheras giggled mirthlessly at my reply; I didn't know how to take that. This monkey was something else from the other silent killers I have met so far.
"You are quite amusing, that is a nice change around here, if you know what I mean."
I nodded to her, knowing exactly what she was talking about. Having the apes around as the company you get to keep would be its own hell in a way. As the apes are as dumb and dim as they are they are not inspiring company at all.
"I have to say to find out you beat Shiek in a fight is impressive, he does not lose to just anyone."
I stared at her sounded like she believes me.
"Wait you believe me?"
"Yes, I do; Mara has talked about you much more than anything else as of late. So I would say she is obsessed with you for some reason. As for Shiek there is little chance anyone would know of him losing, since he will go to great lengths to make sure no one knows of such. However, Shiek has been in a rather brooding mood since he has come back here, the only reason for that is that he lost. It is surprising that you did beat him, few can match Shiek in tactics."
I was somewhat stunned at her view of the facts and that she didn't deny any of it. Was she trying to stroke my pride or something? What is her angle in this? I still didn't trust any of these monkeys period and I would continue with this mindset for the time being.
"What do you want then Sheras?"
She gave me what I would guess is something akin to a malicious smile. You know, that smile is really giving me chills down my spine. I have a feeling I will not like what she is here for. She twisted her head to motion the apes forward and they moved into the cell, they grabbed me on either side and carried me out of the cell. I was hauled back to the palace.
When I was brought to the throne room I was let go and I felt pain go through my left leg. Though my leg was healing, it was not back to one hundred percent yet and so I dropped to the floor.
"My liege, I have brought him to you as you have asked."
I glanced back behind me to see Sheras bowing and leaving the room. I turned to the throne to see the female ape again.
"We meet again."
I shifted myself into a sitting position on the floor. She was smiling at me.
"You know I have been; thrown and tossed into the ground, into a pitch black room. I have been beaten so badly to the point that I could not stand because I get my leg broken; my body hurts everywhere, just for the sake of entertainment for others. All of this due to the hospitality of the apes that follow you and that you lead. Knowing all of that, you really expect me to be friendly and nice to you? Then I say to you ... Think again you freaking whench!"
The female continued to smile at me.
"My, you are much more talkative than the last time. Whench is not my name it is Lucrecia."
I just gave her a cold gaze. I was mad and it was taking effort to keep control of my emotions at this time.
"I say again, if you really expect me to be friendly and nice to you, after the hell I have been going through, you have another thing coming, Whench!"
Apes came back in and grabbed me and picked me up and hauled me out of the room. I found that it was just apes this time with no silent killers. This meant it was time for another acquisition run ... hell I might as well call it what it is, a stealing spree, WHEE! I will put the stuff to better use then the apes anyways, so I feel no guilt whatsoever about robbing them blind. Actually I was having a grand old time doing this to the apes. I stealthily started to take stuff that was within my reach and hid the stuff on my person. All the while the apes were oblivious to my activity.
When we had reached my cell I was thrown in this time rather than being set down like the last time. The jolt of hitting the ground hurt a bit, but I held my piece as the apes closed the door and put the bar back in place, locking the door. I strained my hearing to listen to the apes leaving. When they were out of earshot I let out a sigh. About time they leave me to myself, time I get to work and make those apes regret ever meeting me. I was going to make my notoriously bad luck work for me instead of on me and set it loose on the apes for a change. I chuckled softly at the wonderful thought. I stood shakily and untuck my shirt and the stuff I had stolen fell to the floor. I did the same with my pants with the same results. I looked over my acquisitions that would contribute to my cause of my escape plan. I saw that I had got a cord around an inch thick and about six feet in length, which will be useful. I gotten an amount of cotton fiber with I was grateful for when I had landed. I could make a pillow possible, but we will see. I noticed that I had picked up more cloth along with a small knife and some rough thread like stuff on a short stick. Well with this I may be able to fix my clothes, no promise to the results of my attempts. I also got more wood to work with as well. The last thing I saw I had gotten on today's spree was what looked like a handle or hilt for a tool that had most likely had a tool of some sort that wasn't there now. I took a deep breath and set to work on organizing the stuff I had theft today.
===some time later===
I was satisfied with the work I had been able to do since I had gotten back to my cell. I now had a slightly more comfortable bed to sleep on now. I had made some crude minor repairs to my pants that could be passable for patching the rips and tares. I was working on attaching the cord to the tool handle in hopes of making a whip of sorts when I heard the sound of many foot falls coming towards my cell. I hid the 'whip' I had been working on in a corner and took up my normal sitting position I had adopted to meet apes as of late. The scrapping of the bar signaled that there were here for me. The door burst open and five apes came rushing in. I instantly realized that these apes were not here on orders to take me somewhere. They had looks on their faces that said that they had much more malicious ideas in mind. I fought back, but these apes were stronger than me and they overpowered me and hauled me out and down towards the army camp. I had the chilling feeling that if I were to be present in that camp I would not get out in good health at all. I struggled against my escort, who held me tightly so that I couldn't escape.
When we got down into the army camp, the apes were riled up. I knew this was not being watched by those who wanted me alive. This would be literally end up being a fight for my life and I was already at a disadvantage. I felt one of the apes holding me loosen their hold and I sprang into action. I wrenched my right arm free and punched the ape that held my left arm in the face as hard as I could. He let go of me and howled in pain. I dropped to the ground and I felt my leg was not fully healed, but enough I could use it as I needed at this moment. I did a spinning roundhouse kick and took my escort by surprise and sent them flying into the crowd. I glanced around for something, anything to work with for a weapon in order to increase my chances to survive this fight. I saw a broadsword and grabbed it and swung it around myself to clear the apes that were approaching me. They back up slightly, but they still pressed forward at me.
I was slashing and fighting hard and it looked like I was doing fine against the apes. However, one thing changed that completely and it came unexpectedly to me. I didn't see the ape thrusting the dagger at me until it was too late to avoid. The sound of the dagger piercing me, on my left side right under my ribcage was a quiet thump as the dagger was driven in to the hilt. I knew instantly when the blade had thrust at me that this was going to be bad. The feeling of the blade piercing me slightly below my ribcage on my left was colder as ice. The dagger had gone in to the hilt and that was deep enough for me to seriously worry if I was going to drop right here and now. It was a likely possibility of me dying at some point afterwards when I bled out. The blade was withdrawn from me; I instantly covered the wound with my left hand. I looked down only to see a large amount of blood. I felt myself becoming light headed and I collapsed to the ground.
When I opened my eyes next I found myself being carried back towards my cell. I cleared my pain clouded mind by force, enough so that I could start grabbing random objects that looked useful as I had developed the habit of doing while I had been here. I once again thanked whoever had been the one responsible of making these apes so stupid and ignorant. It was helping me in ways that they could not imagine. They still never could figure out how things were disappearing or to where. Little do they know that I was the one doing that, and they are unknowingly helping me. I smiled at the thought that I have yet to be caught doing this. I was set into my cell, not thrown this time and the door was locked behind them. I let out a sigh; this is just great for me ha ha. I began to inspect myself to find out the extent of my injuries. I found I was wrapped in some kind of bandages to cover my wound so that it wasn't bleeding freely. I crawled over to the pile of wood I had in one of the corners on the same wall that the door was on. I took a piece of wood and put it in the middle of the room and lit it. I decided to undo the wrapping to see just how bad I was right now. I wished I had not after removing the wrapping. The wound was about three inches in length, which was not what made this problem as bad as it was. This stab wound was open and I would guess deep. The apes or the ones who had 'patched' me up had done a decent job temporarily, but not enough for the long term. I needed to close the wound up as soon as possible. My health would depend on me getting this wound closed. I looked over what I had acquired on this trip back to my cell; what looked like thin yarn or some kind of thread, a small knife, and what appeared to be a long thin piece of metal with a small hole at one end. I began to make preparations for something drastic, even by my unusual standards.
After I had gotten things ready, I began to steel myself for what I was about to do. I wouldn't have considered something like this unless there was no other way and even then I would question enacting the idea I had. However, desperate times call for desperate measures. I engulfed my left hand with intense heat and placed it over my open wound. I was in pain and the fact that I was about to put myself in even worse pain didn't sit well with me. However, with the wound I had, I had two options. I could either close the wound by simplistic means and putting myself in far more pain in the process or I could leave it and hope I didn't bleed to death. I, of course went with the first option of the two. I place my left and on the wound and hiss involuntarily at the pain. It felt like my skin under my left hand was cooking, which in a way I guess it was. I was trying to use heat to sear the wound closer to being shut.
When I moved my hand away, I saw the wound had closed more, but not completely. This meant I would need to go with the second part of the idea I had in mind as well. I was by no means an expert when it came to sewing. I looked over to my makeshift needle and thread and sighed. To think my first try at sewing was going to be on myself and with improvised tool and supply. I took up the needle in my right hand and sterilized it with the flame that was giving the room light. I threaded the needle and looked down at the wound once more. The first puncture of the needle felt horrendous, I gritted my teeth and my breath was coming out alternating between ragged and rasping in response. It took a great deal of effort to not let out a scream or howl of pain as I began to stitch myself up. I continued after that sewing myself up from the marks of hatred and the grudge that the apes held against me. When I had finally finished, it felt like it had been a long while, I let out a long breath. I couldn't tell how long it really had taken me to patch and sew myself up, but probably not as long as I would guess. I had ended out with seven rough and makeshift stitches that had closed the wound. I had rewrapped the injury with the bandages to help the stitches stay in place. I had lost an amount of blood during my self-surgery, so I felt very light headed. I just lay on the floor trying to ignore the pain. I drifted in and out of sleep; I really was beginning to be unable to tell the difference between being sleep and being awake.
I was definitely now in hell and lower than rock bottom, if that was possible. If there is something lower than the first circle of hell then I was certainly there. I know I will very likely regret thinking it, but I really can't see how this can get worse than this is currently. Death is not sounding all that bad as it did before I got here, yet that would give the monkeys the satisfaction of beating me and I will NOT give them that pleasure. I needed to escape soon, as I fear this previous fight will not be the only attempt to kill me. I believe my odds of surviving another one were much slimmer than this one was.
Chapter end
A/n
Okay that is all for now. So, a few things; the passage of time in this chapter is ambiguous because when you are in a place that doesn't appear to change it is much harder to tell the passage of time. Next Saber healing factor has some limitations, but I will get into that in the next chapter. Lastly I can assure you things will start looking up soon enough for Saber, so don't worry. Please take the time to review, thank you for reading.
