Ch. 2

            Once.  Twice.  Again.  Again.  Like the waves of an ocean resounding from one hill to the next, the pain rolled through Jack Kelly's brain.  He opened one eye.  Nothing.  The other.  Still nothing.  Jack's eyelids shuttered up and down, blinking in a furious flutter of panic and shock.  Whatsa matter?  Why can't I see? 

            A moment later, his eyes adjusted.  Oh.  Putrid light seeped into the room from a window inlaid in the rough stone wall.  Four rough stone walls.  No, not four windows, four walls, all like the one, just one, wall that contained a window.  Not even a great window.  What purpose did it serve, anyway?  It hardly let in any light, and sat too high to climb through.

            Jack shook his head, immediately regretting his attempt to reorganize his babbling thoughts.  The juices in his none-too-full stomach made a sick splash inside him.  He felt his whole body lurch.

            Grimacing, Jack touched the back of his head, and winced even more.  A Brooklyn-sized lump clung to the back of his skull.  Ouch.  That was one nasty soaking.  His facial muscles drooping in a frown, Jack attempted to remember just what happened.  He couldn't.  A fist, many fists, and…the rally!  A whoosh of air accompanied Jack's lunge to his feet.  "Jeez, the rally!"