Chapter 4: Escape

Sean stood in the halls outside the lizards' chamber, having been driven out. That wasn't bothering him too much though, he hated being in there. What was really bothering him was all that had happened in the past hour and was leaving him totally confused. For one, how could he speak a language he knew nothing about and was almost impossible to learn none the less? What was Link talking about when he said, "Since it's so obvious"? Why did Link treat him different that everyone else? He had never even once laid a finger on Sean since he grabbed him five years prior. Sean scratched his head, giving a sigh. Was there something that everyone else knew that he didn't? 'Must be.' Sean thought brushing some of his death white locks from his eyes. His hair was getting long, not like it really mattered anyway. It'd just be harder to see.

Sean leaned against one of the black walls and allowed his mind to wander to anything other than questions. The first thing that came to his mind was his escape plan, which drew up blank. He had no clue on how escaping this conveniently placed fortress would work. 'It's on a stupid hill!' Sean thought to himself in frustration, hand resting on his forehead. His ice blue eyes locked themselves onto the black ceiling when he pulled his hand away.

The halls of this "prison" were patrolled twenty-four-seven by Lizalfos and Moblins and it was impossible to travel very far without at least one catching a glimpse of you. Hiding in the shadows was always an option, but Lizalfos had excellent senses of smell, sight, and hearing and it wouldn't be long before they finally pinpointed you. The Moblins had senses no better than an average Terminian, but their strength was something else. All though they were extremely, physically strong, Link still out matched them without any effort.

Sean rested his chin in his hand and cocked his head slightly to the side. The sky outside the window was slowly turning black as the red sun began to disappear behind the distant ebony peaks. He would have to be getting back soon unless he wanted some quality time getting to know a whip, which was fun for the person hitting him. Sean straightened himself and began the trek back to the Slave Chamber, as it had come to be known. Along the way, he began thinking about traits of the lizards and Moblins.

The Lizalfos had sharply acute senses and were lightning quick. They could kill without injuring the area surrounding their victims. Their brains were also larger than that of the Moblins, giving them the intelligent advantage. They also made excellent assassins.

The Moblins were definitely dumber than the lizards though they at least had some brain in those block heads of theirs. Their strength was probably the only reason Link kept any around. If you needed something reduced to dust quickly, a Moblin was the one for the job.
As he walked about the halls, many of the creatures gave him nasty and disapproving looks. Apparently word of what happened had spread and that's what Sean had hoped to avoid. His need of escape was more necessary now and he could be killed for these rumors. He hoped his luck would last until he could get out.

Sean rounded a corner and bumped into someone, while still deep in thought. The slave he had bumped into turned around, a slightly terrified look in his eyes; like he thought who ever had touched him was going to rip off his head. The boy was slightly younger than Sean and about the same height, wearing the same basic clothing. He had deep reddish-brown hair and clear golden-emerald eyes. Upon seeing who had bumped into him, the boy wiped the scared look off his face and smiled.

"Sean!" he exclaimed happily, throwing his arms around Sean's waist in a hug that caused Sean quite a bit of embarrassment. "I thought I'd never see you again!"

"Shut up, Suto!" Sean hissed through clenched teeth, eyes jerked around at the surrounding crowds; hoping they'd all just go away. "I don't need anymore attention that what I've already got!"

Suto let go of Sean, grabbed his wrist, and began to drag his friend quickly down the hall. "Follow me then," he chimed happily as Sean stumbled after him.

Sean was Suto's best and only friend in the black castle. He was only two years younger Sean, but maybe acted younger than he should. Suto continued to drag Sean around until he came to the Slave Chamber. The Slave Chamber was nothing more than a large room filled with ramshackle cots and a window on one of the walls.

Suto kept on dragging his friend until he came to two beds that were still vacant. Suto jumped onto his bed and bounced on it with his knees. Sean winced just watching him; that cot could collapse at any time since Link could care less than he already did about what they slept on.

"So, what happened?" Suto asked when Sean sat on the bed opposite of himself.

Sean smiled weakly at his young friend.

"Why are you asking that?" he said eventually. "We live basically the same life."

Suto shook his head. "Link ordered you up to his chamber," he replied. "What happened?"

Sean sighed and crossed his legs. "It doesn't matter."

Suto's lower lip quivered and Sean rolled his eyes. Suto was doing his cute show that could get almost anything out of anyone who still had warmth in their hearts. He turned his head away, but could still see Suto out of the corner of his eyes. Those watery golden-emerald saucers. Sean gritted his teeth and growled; Suto was getting better at it.

"Alright!" he yelled whipping around to face Suto. "I'll tell!"

Suto smiled an "ear-to-ear" grin and was bouncing on his bed, clapping his hands with an enthused "Yay!"

"You want to know what I did. I spoke in another language. Okay?" Sean said, apparently annoyed.

"That's it?" Suto asked raising an eyebrow, clearly disappointed.

"Yeah."

"Which one?"

"What do you care?"

"Is it illegal to want to know?"

Sean fell silent. "I guess not."

"So then, which one?" Suto persisted again.

"…Lizalfos."

Suto straightened in surprise, eyes widened.

"Th-that's im-impossible," he stuttered. "No one knows it but the lizards themselves!"

"I know, but I did," Sean sighed.

"Prove it," Suto said.

"What?"

"Prove it," he repeated. "Say something."

"I swore I wouldn't speak in it again!" Sean hissed. "I can't!"

"C'mon. Just real quick."

Sean sighed. "Kxoho, A juat jemokxadw. Xuffo?"

Suto's eyes shone in the torchlight with a big smile on his face. Apparently he was very impressed. "You really can!" he squealed. "Cool!"

Sean grabbed one Suto's shoulders roughly, clamped a hand over the boy's mouth to silence him, and locked his ice blue eyes with Suto's emerald green ones; scaring Suto badly.

"Listen to me!" Sean snapped, his eyes ice cold. "Don't you dare say a word about this! I just broke my promise to Link! I swore I wouldn't speak in it again and I just did! If he finds out, I'm as good as dead! Understand?"

Suto gulped and nodded slowly and Sean released him. His ice blue eyes seemed to give a menacing flash before they softened down, Sean was serious. Suto crawled under his thin blanket and curled up into a ball; balled hands near his face. Sean got up and sat himself down next to his friend.

"It's okay," he said softly, placing a gentle hand on Suto's small shoulder. "Just don't say anything, so Link doesn't find out about it . . . but I guess it doesn't really matter."

"Why?" Suto asked.

"I'm leaving," Sean whispered, "tonight."

"Why?"

"You know why and I think it is best you stay here."

"Why?"

"It's easier to travel alone, besides, what would you do once you got out onto the wasteland?"

"Kiss it," Suto replied sarcastically to lighten the mood a little.

Sean smiled and pushed on Suto's shoulder softly.

"But why do you have to leave?" Suto pressed.

"I'm not quite sure. I just can't stand this place anymore, but you," he looked at his best friend, "you practically grew up here."

Suto looked off to the side sadly. That was true. This fortress had been his home for as long as he could remember. He looked back up at Sean.

"Will I ever see you again?" he asked weakly.

Sean only shrugged his shoulders. "I don't know."

Suto nodded closing his eyes and drifted off to sleep in a matter of seconds.

Sean sighed and patted Suto's shoulder softly. Suto was like a younger brother to him, even though they weren't related in any way. Sean went back to his own cot and crawled into it. He was going to need his rest if he planned on escaping. He thought for awhile on how that might work, but drifted off to sleep himself.

Sean awoke some hours later, the sky still dark. He sat up and looked around; everyone else was still asleep. He carefully slid off the cot, making sure to keep it from creaking too much. After getting to the floor, he pulled the blanket off the cot and tied it around his neck; a make-shift cloak. He didn't know whether it was really hot or cold in the wasteland nor did he know how he was going to get out. He figured he would plan as he went along.

He sprinted softly over to the door and crouched to the ground, placing his ear on the cold stone floor; listening for the footfalls of something coming his way.

Silence.

With that good news in mind, he stood and placed his hand on the door knob. He turned his head back at the sleeping form of his friend, ice blue eyes beginning to shine with unshed tears. He knew he wasn't going to come back. He didn't want to come back for any reason, but he couldn't leave Suto here in this hell for the rest of his life. He turned his head away, a saddened sigh escaping his lips and his eyes flicked back to Suto. The boy looked so peaceful there in the slumber that exiled the evils of this fortress. Sean would've loved nothing more than go back over to the cot beside his friend and go back to sleep. All he needed was Suto's smiling face to be able to survive here, but his mind was set and there could not be any changing it. With one last sigh, Sean creaked the door open and slid through, not once giving a final look back. He looked in both directions before pulling the door shut softly. He knew this was a foolish move, but then again, he could be doing himself a favor.

After gathering was courage he had, he sprinted silently down the hall, staying in the shadows. Every so often, he'd stop and listen for any other movement other than himself. Nothing. 'The guards must've already been by here.' Sean thought continuing down the hall. He eventually rounded a corner and saw two baskets sitting next to a black door that would've been invisible if not for the torchlight along the walls.

Suddenly, Sean heard a door open and two creatures come out, talking very loudly. They were some distance behind Sean and he looked around frantically for a place to hide. With no where else to really go, Sean lifted the lid of one of the baskets, jumped in, and replaced the lid; staying as still and quiet as he possibly could.

Eventually the voices became clearer, suggesting that they had entered the same hall as Sean. He could even feel the footfalls of one of them slightly, meaning one was very large and by the deep voice, it was a Moblin. The other was a Moblin as well Sean guessed, since its voice was too deep to be a Terminian or a Lizalfos, but higher than the other, suggesting it was smaller.

"…So these them baskets they wanted us to take to the dock?" the deeper one asked.

"I would assume so," the other replied. "The others have already been moved so they're waiting on these two."

Sean heard the crackle as the other basket was picked up and then he felt the presence of two very large hands grab his basket and set it on its carrier's shoulder.

"What the hell do they put in these things anyway?" the deep voiced one demanded; apparently holding the basket Sean was in. "This thing's heavy!"

"Stop your whining!" the other snapped, and a sound followed that told one of them had been slapped. "Let's just get them to the dock before Master decides to have our heads served to him on a silver platter!"

Both fell silent as they hustled down the halls, unaware of their hitch-hiking passenger. Sean had no idea where they were going, but he guessed he would find out soon enough. 'The dock must be a way out.' he thought to himself. He had never seen the dock before so he hoped it was an exit.

The trek continued for about an hour or so and Sean was drifting off with boredom, but tried to keep himself awake. Soon a smell reached his nose that he did not recognize, but this wasn't the time for new smells. He would be able to enjoy it later, when he got out. After a few more minutes of walking, Sean was dropped hard on his rear as the basket was tossed into the boat. He mentally said "ouch" since he didn't want them knowing he was in there.

"There's your dumb cargo," the deep voiced Moblin snapped. "I don't see why Master continues to give you this shit anyway."

"I've told you a bazillion times," a different voice said, clearly one of a Terminian. "If he doesn't want it, I take it."

"Whatever," the deep voice muttered again, letting its annoyance known. "Let's go." With that, it disappeared with the smaller Moblin.

Sean took a deep silent breath; so far, so good. He had actually escaped from the clutches of the fortress without getting caught. The immense blackness of the night prevented him from seeing anything in front or around him. He made himself comfortable inside the basket, trying not to make to much noise. He had no idea where he was or was going and so decided to stay put until he could figure that out.

The blinding darkness started to make Sean feel tired again and he closed his eyes, not that it changed anything. He'd be cramped when he woke up, but he didn't care. Eventually he dozed off, but there remained one thing he hadn't thought of . . . . How incredibly easy escaping was.