CHAPTER 10
Prisoner
Ayame sat up in a tree, cradling the sword in her arms while she watched Sherikan's men hunting for her blow on the forest floor. She was lucky she could become invisable so she could hide herself and the sword, but she was worried about Espio. Was he all right? Did he get away with his friends?
She looked down at the sword. "I hope he rescued his friends and is okay," she said to herself.
She had a bad feeling he wasn't.
What should I do? Should I got back to make sure or should I just leave with the feeling that he had?
She made up her mind to find out and slowly and silently she made her way back to Sherikan's camp.
Espio was coming around. The first thing he became aware of was a throbbing in his head and pain that could only come from cramped muscles. In fact everything hurt. His arms, head, legs, face, back, even his tail. He felt like someone had dropped something on him or his body had been used as a soccer ball.
The chameleon opened his yellow eyes slowly. He saw the ceiling of a sand colored tent. He closed his eyes again and fell back to sleep.
A little later he woke and opened his eyes again. This time only half way. He could still see the tent roof.
Where... am... I? he thought to himself, I don't remember this.
His eyes closed again and he dozed. Voices filled his mind again. Voices but no pictures.
"I see the stars tonight."
"Yuffie..."
"Poor boy. Lost your sister?"
"Yuffie..."
"Well don't worry. You'll be with her soon."
"Yuffie...?"
"Why won't you say anything else?"
"Yuffie..."
"I'm sick of this brat! Get rid of him!"
"Where am I? Who am I? Where did I come from? What is this place? It looks like a big city."
"Are you okay, kid?"
"Leave me alone!"
"You should learn some respect."
"I must live. I must remember who I am..."
"Who are you and what are you doing here?"
"M-my name's Espio. I only wanted some food. I didn't steal anything else. I swear!"
Then the voices changed.
"Wake up!"
"Let him sleep a little longer, sir. The way you struck him was kinda hard. He could be out for a few more hours."
"I want him to wake up now!"
Espio felt someone kick him. He felt his whole side fill with pain but he couldn't open his eyes or tell whoever it was to stop. He was too tired.
"What's wrong with him? Why won't he open his eyes?"
"Like I said before you hit him pretty hard sir."
Espio didn't hear the rest of the conversation. He fell back to sleep.
Sherikan stared angrily at the senseless chameleon. He kicked him in the ribs again but the chameleon didn't stir.
The Espio look alike knelt down and stared at him for a moment. It was true they did look alike. Sherikan ignored that though. He saw Espio breathing but it was the slow even breathing of sleep.
Sherikan angrily stood up. He wasn't just angry he was worried. What if Espio never woke up? Then what would happen? I'll never get that sword back, that's what.
He grew angry again. He knelt down and grabbed the sixteen year old's arms. He started to shake him. "What's the matter with you? Why didn't you just give me the sword instead of handing it to that slimy girlfriend of yours?! What's your problem!?"
The other chameleon did not answer. He hadn't expected one anyway.
Sherikan gave up and stood. He'd try again later when Espio was awake. That is IF Espio ever woke up again...
The ninja shook that thought out of his head. He didn't want to think of that possibility. He quickly left the tent. Never glancing back once.
Ayame was almost at the camp once more. She was extremely careful on her way back. Even though no one had spotted her, she wasn't about to take any chances.
She sat on a tree limb and looked into the camp, trying to spot Espio or his crocodile friend. She caught sight of the crocodile still tried to the same tree. He appeared to be sleeping.
Aayme looked around quickly but saw no one else. Did everyone go to sleep as well? she wondered. It seemed logical if they had Espio there somewhere. She decided to take a chance. She quickly jumped out of the tree she'd been hiding in and sneaked across the camp. Soon she was standing right in front of the crocodile.
"Uh," she said kneeling down beside him and poking his shoulder, "wake up."
Vector was startled out of his sleep. "Wha- WHAT!" he said in a loud voice.
Ayame put her hand around his mouth trapping it shut. "Shh," she hissed putting a finger to her lips, "I'm here to here to help you."
"Who are you?" he asked.
"My name is Ayame Rioko," the female chameleon replied, "I came with Espio to help him get you back."
"Espio?" Vector whispered, "Ohmigosh! I hope he's all right."
"Where is he?"
"I don't know. After that fight with his evil twin some of that guy's buddys drug Espio off somewhere."
She felt cold all of a sudden. Espio hadn't gotten away after all. "Did you see which direction?"
"I think they drug him that way," Vector replid, jerking his head left.
"Thank you," she said standing up.
She began to walk away.
"Hey!" he quietly called after her, "aren't you gonna cut me loose?"
"Oh, I'm sorry," she said turning around.
She returned to him and cut the ropes with her sword.
Vector stood up and stretched, almost knocking her over in the process.
"Watch it," she said ducking.
"Sorry," he said sheepishly. "now how are we going to do this? Find Espio I mean."
"Let's split up," she said, "I'll go one way and you go the other."
Vector agreed and they split up.
Espio finally felt like he was going to actually wake up this time. He opened his eyes all the way and stared at the ceiling of the tent. What in the world? he thought, looking around, Where am I?
The he remembered the fight he'd lost. Ohmigod! This isn't what I planned at all!
He tried to move but discovered he was tried to a table leg. After a quick look around he concluded he was in someone important's tent. Probably Sherikan's. Great, just great, he thought, just what I don't need!
He glanced around himself again. No Sherikan. Good, I'm here alone. Maybe I can somehow free myself.
He leaned his weight against the table, hoping to lift it and get his arms free. The thing didn't budge. He tried a few more times to no avail.
Rats, he thought resting, what's this thing made of? Rocks?
The chameleon leaned forward, hoping to snap the ropes against the table leg. That didn't work either. Not that he'd expected it to, but he had to try everything at least once.
Finally he gave up and rested again. His mind went to Ayame and the sword. I hope she's all right. I hope she still has that sword with her.
But what if she doesn't?
Espio quickly put that thought out of his mind. He didn't want to worry about it. It was best not to.
Besides, I have other things to worry about now, he thought, hearing someone's footsteps outside the tent, like how am I going to get out of this one?
The next instant Sherikan stormed into the tent and towered over him. "I'm glad you're finally awake," Sherikan said in a superior toned voice, "now you can answer my questions."
"What questions?" Espio asked suspiciously.
Sherikan knelt down and looked the other chameleon in the eyes. "Where did that girl take the sword?"
"When you find her ask her," Espio said cockily.
That was not the answer Sherikan wanted. He grabbed Espio's shoulders and pulled him forward. The sixteen year old felt pain shoot up his arms but held in the screams.
"I need answers," Sherikan growled, "I don't have time for your games."
"And I don't have time for your questions," Espio shot back.
"Your time is my time!" Sherikan roared, "and right now I have pleny of time!"
