Prisoners, Chapter Twenty Two
What a strange sensation.. I had the impression I was floating. Like my soul had separated from my body and floated over it. I didn't see anything, I only felt warmth. It was really strange, like an experiment. If I felt like that, did it mean I was dead? Or simply asleep. No matter the reason, I felt good here, whatever here was. I could've stayed for hours, days, years even, but I felt something pull me back to reality. A mysterious force brought me back to my body, and I opened my eyes.
My limbs were dull and I had difficulty only moving my toes. The sun hurt my eyes. For how long did I sleep? Suddenly, I raised the upper part of my body. It was a bad idea. My head immediately started to feel dizzy. I saw little dots in my vision. I wanted to throw up..
"You must stay put, miss!" A delicate hand gently, but firmly, lied me back down. I remembered those blond locks. "Roxanne?" She smiled down at me while putting blankets on top of me. Why was she at my house? I looked around and found out this was not my bedroom. It was in fact the same one I got dresses in a few weeks back, in Doflamingo's mansion… Shit, Doflamingo!
For the second time, I sat down quickly and put my feet on the ground, ignoring the nausea and dizziness still present in my body. Fortunately, the last one started to fade slowly. Roxanne seemed alarmed.
"You should stay put!" She said in a hurry. I shook my head. "I have to…" Law… I hope you're okay… "No!" She said, this time with a firm tone, but still soft. "You passed out last night and you have to regain your strength!" I looked at her, incredulous. "Passed out?" She was wrong! Doflamingo put something in my cup of tea and it… "It was fortunate that Master Doflamingo was there, or you would have hit your head on the floor."
No, he… I came with Law to…
Completely lost, I couldn't react when she helped me lie down again. Did I dream all of it? What I thought was true.. What could I believe, now?
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Another hit was given. Law didn't scream, nor did he even let out a pained expression show on his face. He only spit out the blood he had in his mouth. He had bruises all over, his lower lip was split, his cheek too, and his eye took a purplish colour. And even with all this, he didn't complain. He was used to taking these kinds of injuries in the past. Of course, it hurt, but he would never give satisfaction to his attacker.
Said man started to seriously get pissed off. His victim didn't show any sign of pain. On the contrary, he seemed absolutely calm, with the confident look he gave him. He wanted to scream. Enraged, he gave him yet another kick in his side. Law had his breath taken away.
"Come now, we can't bother our guest too much!" Doflamingo went down the stairs like nothing was happening, like he came to visit a friend. He arrived in the room weirdly dark and went over to his old "employee". Law stared at him, his eyes dark with rage. He really wanted to strangle him right now, but his wrists were chained down to the wall behind him. He was on his knees on the ground, hanging on the chains. It wasn't really comfortable…
"Law, Law, Law…" Doflamingo shook his head, as if he disapproved. "How many times will it take until you understand you can't win?" The brunet did nothing, only settling on staring at him with all the anger he could muster.
"Now you've even involved poor Cerys in all this…" Law brought his hands to the front to get to Doflamingo, but the chains stopped his movement. The metal rattling echoed in the room. The expression on the man's face was pure rage. "Don't you dare talk about her…" He hissed between his teeth. The blond smiled, not at all intimidated.
"You should be more careful," he started without regardless of the murderous stare the man gave him, "an accident can happen so fast…" He turned around and disappeared up the stairs. The door closing behind him echoed in his ears. The silence took over, only broken but the metal sounds coming from Law. Then, the other man still in the room sighed. "It's only you and me now, partner." A deranged smirk appeared on his lips. He rolled up his sleeves and prepared to continue his previous actions.
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"May I have some water, please?" I gently asked, my voice as pleading as possible. Roxanne nodded and got out the room after closing the door behind her. I sighed. Then, I started to slowly think.
Even if Doflamingo's servant repeated that I fainted not long after I came here, I had difficulty believing it. I knew she believed in her words, so the blond must have lied to her. I was convinced it was the case. My memory didn't play tricks with my mind. I came with Law so he could find evidence in the mansion to charge Doflamingo. We came with his car and then… Unconsciously, my fingers landed on my lips. He kissed me under the moon.. No, too romantic. And Law was NOT romantic.
Anyway, if I was still here and he wasn't there with me, it meant he got caught. I was almost certain he was somewhere in the mansion. In a dark room, probably…
I had to find him. And that's why I send Roxanne away to get me some water. To get her away. Doflamingo surely told her to keep an eye on me, which meant I wasn't free to do what I wanted. I got up and noted something was in my pocket. I dived my hand in there. My cellphone. It was still here? Good. It could be useful in case of an emergency. I put it back safely in my pocket and turned to the door. I gently opened it and looked through the crack big enough to see with one eye. A guard was there, guarding (due!) my door. Fortunately, he didn't see me open the door. I than closed it just as slowly.
Alrighty, what do I do now? I can't get out, the guard will see me for sure! And there was no other way out.. Unless… The window.
I went over to it and opened it all the way through. We were currently on the second floor. Awesome… I took out the window screen and put my head outside to observe my escape route. There was an edge I could step on under the window just about a dozen centimeters. Just enough for a foot on the side. And not enough to make me even believe it was safe… I looked one way, then the other, and noticed the edge went all the way to the other window. The next-door room, I imagine.
I pulled back my head inside and took a deeeep breath. It was now or never! Mustering what courage I had left, I put my feet on the other side and tested the wall to found something to grasp on. Once solid on my feet, I put the rest of my body out the window and hugged the wall like I trying to fuse with it. Slowly, carefully, I advanced. One step at a time, no rush.
Fear took over my heart, but I persevered. I was never scared of heights before, but knowing I could break my too legs if my foot slipped… Okay, that's enough, with those scary thoughts… Think about something else… Like not looking down… Oh no, I want to look down… Don't do it. Don't do it. Don't do it! Aaah!
I froze, eyes glued on the ground. I was scared. Tears appeared on the corner of my eyes. My hands trembled. I was scared I would fall. I was scared of what Doflamingo could do to me. I was scared of what he'll do to Law… I pushed down my tears and looked up to see the window almost at arm's reach. Come one, just a bit more, old branch! You're almost there!
I continued moving forward (sideways) and finally reached the damn window. With a trembling hand, I managed to open it and was relieved to see it didn't have any screen. I hung on the window like my life depended on it (which it did) and passed through the hole face first. My landing wasn't what you would call graceful, my nose violently colliding with the floor, but at least, I was alive. I nervously laughed, but immediately winced. My nose hurt. However, I got back on my feet and approached the door. I opened it the same way I did the other to see just in time the blond locks of Roxanne flying behind her. I waited a couple of seconds, giving her the time to enter the room and realize I was gone. And in fact, I heard her scream my name. I looked through the crack and saw the guard run inside. There's my chance!
I got out and ran on my tiptoes in the opposite direction. I only stopped when I turned a corner and I was sure no one was around. I took the time to catch my breath and think about the situation. Where was Law, or the possible places he could be? Surely on an underground room. I than had to find stairs. And if I remember correctly…
I continued my way through the corridor maze to finally find small stairs. Bingo. I went down four by four, but stopped short on the last one upon hearing voices. I hugged the wall and hoped they wouldn't see me. I was heard by who knows who. Two men passed on my right without seeing me. I sighed in relief. Once they were out of my sight, I took the hallway they just left and followed along. I would probably find the right door sometime soon, right?
During long minutes, I searched the mansion while occasionally avoiding guards crossing my path. Fortunately, I stayed discreet and didn't get caught. Instead I found a door sufficiently creepy to be the right one. But it had a lock on. Freaking-. Just when I found it, I heard footsteps coming my way. In a panic, I turned the corner of the corridor and observed quietly. A guard approached and posted himself in front of the door. Oh come on! How do I get in now! Well, with no key anyway.. Like the one on his belt..
…Wait, a key?! It must be the one for the door! Only problem: how to get it? Hmm… A smile illuminated my face. It was my turn to play ninja!
I gazed around and found candlestick holders on top of my head. Perfect. I took one of the candles and watched the guard. He looked the other way. I then threw the candle so it would get past the man. It loudly fell on the floor. Like I anticipated, the guard went to investigate my projectile. As soon as he did, I carefully got out of my hiding place and approached his back.
After that, I moved to his right, tackled my hand on his face and pulled down while tripping him over. Surprise, he fell on the ground without uttering a single sound. I tackled my knee on his torso and hardly hit his face. His head swayed a bit before weakly falling on the floor. I took his keys and got up. "Sorry.." I whispered to him. And thank you Garp-sensei for those intense training sessions. I would've never thought my karate classes would serve me this way…
I went towards the door and tried the key in the lock. I heard a click go off. I didn't waste a single second and ran inside. Once the door closed behind me, I notice how dark it was. I find it difficult just to see in front of me. So I slowly went down the stairs. Down wasn't much better in terms of lightning. At least, I was able to see what the room looked like. I saw a table with multiple really strange objects on top of it, and I was sure I saw some of those in movies. The wall was lined with chains that probably were used to restrain people. What is this place, a torture room? A shiver ran down my spine.
I took notice of someone actually being chained down on the wall. I couldn't see their face, which was on their chest, only short black hair. "Law…" I tentatively tried, strongly hoping I was wrong. The person slowly looked up. "Cerys…" Said a week voice.
As soon as I heard my name, I hurried to his side and fell on my knees in front of him. His face was covered in blood, his clothes too. He was battered for sure, but it was him. Tears in my eyes, I reached out with a trembling hand. "What did they do to you…" I murmured, my heart broken. My finger only grazed his skin and he flinched in pain. I immediately brought back my hand to my chest while apologizing. "What are you doing here?" He hardly managed to say. "I came to get you out." His eyes got dark. "Idiot! You should've ran when you had the chance…"
His words surprised me, but mostly, they made me angry. "Oh how you can be stupid sometimes! If you think I'll let the man I love behind me when he's surely in danger!" Law stared at me with big surprised eyes. Why did he look at me that way? Oh… I just said it, didn't I? That I loved him… My cheeks started to burn. I really had shitty timing! To say something like that right now…
I waited for him to reject me, or change the subject, but to my own astonishment, his eyes went soft. "Cerys…" Suddenly, I heard the door violently open. Footsteps resonated in the room. "Hide!" Law Hurried me along.
I only had the time to sneak under the table behind the tablecloth before a menacing shadow appeared. It went towards Law. "Ah, I was actually certain the little bitch would be here with you! Oh well, how could she knock down the guard at the entrance anyway? She's so weak. Like you, wouldn't say?" A grotesque laugh echoed in the room. He gave me goosebumps…
"So anyway, who did it then? Another accomplice of yours?" I heard his footsteps get near me. I held my breath. "What if they were hidden right here…" I had the impression my heart would jump out of my mouth. I closed my eyes.
"Or maybe your men do there job so horribly they get knocked out on their own?" Said the mocking voice of Law. Quietly, the footsteps got away. I let out a relieved sigh, but not for long. I heard a harsh snap coming from Law's direction. He just hit him. "You little shit!" Another hit. And another. And again another. I closed my eyes to try to contain my tears, to no avail. I had to put a hand on my mouth so the man wouldn't hear my cries.
After what felt like an eternity, the massacre finally ceased. I only heard the shaky breathing of Law and his silent moaning. "I'm gonna kill ya! Like I killed Doflamingo's enemies! And you're gonna suffer. Oh yes! You'll beg me to end your pathetic life!" I heard him go away. "But not right now. I want to find your short girlfriend so she can sit down and enjoy the show, and then, I'll take care of her…"
His laugh echoed in the room while he climbed the stairs. When I was sure he wasn't there anymore, I got out of my hiding place and went to Law, my cheeks running with tears. If those chains weren't there, he would probably collapse on the floor.
"I'm so sorry Law…" He sighed. "It's not a scene I would've liked you to see me in, but whatever…" He spat out the blood he had in his mouth. I dried my tears. No time to be a crybaby. I went to the table and tried to find a tool to free him. Even in this situation, Law found a way to make fun of me. "What, you won't talk again about your passionate confession?"
I turned his way, lightning in my eyes, but red on my face. "It's really not the time to talk about that!" He started to laugh, but quickly winced. "Ouch, my ribs…"
As I went back to work, an awful racket came from above. Screams resonated. "What was that?" Law managed to smirk even with the pain.
"Reinforcements finally show up."