5
Chapter 30
The guards stood at their post…like silent sentries. Their faces were grim and emotionless; their eyes were like stone.
They listened to the echoes of screaming prisoners. The sound was unnerving…but like white noise to these men.
"HELP ME!"
"I DIDN'T KILL HIM! I JUST BASHED HIS BRAINS IN!"
The guards neither laughed nor wept; they never spoke.
Their minds had long been twisted and warped by the state of wretch that they experienced day in and day out.
Watching men speak to themselves about where they hid the knife, or listening to murderers go into great detail about how they murdered and raped an entire family…children and all.
Nothing was real anymore; no conscience, no emotion.
Only their job.
That was all they had now.
A cloaked figure approached the guards; he walked with the temperament and confidence of a trained soldier.
The guards raised their heads as the figure neared them; they held no expressions on their faces.
"Can we help you?"
The figure was silent for a moment.
"Sir…are you here to see someone?"
The figure produced a gun from his cloak. The weapon discharged with a sound that rippled through the corridor.
Lo-Chem was counting the grains of dirt on the ground. He sat on the floor…but his neck craned towards the ground.
"1…2…3…"
From the white noise…he could hear sporadic voices raise in pitch and panic.
The distraction from the status quo frustrated him; if everything wasn't perfect…he would lose his count.
"1…2…3…" he said…slightly more forceful in his tone.
The screams got closer and closer; they were no more than twenty feet away.
"1…2…3…" he said again…nearly yelling.
The screams now were just outside of his doorway.
"1…2…3!" he shouted at the top of his lungs.
The second the word "three" left his lips…the door to his cell exploded into rubble.
Lo-Chem covered his head in fear.
After the dust cleared…he raised his head…his eyes widening.
The cloaked figure stood where the door to his cell had previously been.
"We don't have a lot of time," growled the cloaked figure.
Lo-Chem nodded his head in understanding.
The cloaked figure accompanied Lo-Chem into a small office; the room was dimly lit…and drab gray all over.
Seated at the desk was Sakal.
"My friend," Lo-Chem said softly. His face was gentle…but his eyes were harsh.
Lo-Chem took a seat across from Sakal; Sakal poured each of them a drink…then folded his hands in front of him.
Sakal wore a smile on his face…but his eyes held something in.
The two made eye contact for a brief instance; they saw each other…yet felt worlds apart.
Lo-Chem grabbed his glass and sat back in his chair…dangling the liquid in front of his face.
He let out a deep sigh…examining the bubbles popping in his drink.
"The bubbles…there are so many of them. I could count them for hours,"
Sakal let out a deep sigh himself; his face shifted from a smile to a pained expression.
"General,"
"…1,2…3…"
"General,"
"4…5…"
"Lo-Chem!"
Lo-Chem slowly glanced over it Sakal with a genuine expression of surprise.
"My good friend, Sakal! I've missed you so!"
Sakal could feel the pit in his stomach growing bigger.
"You've been in solitude for quite sometime. Perhaps it would be best if you had a little time to adjust."
Sakal rose to his feet…peering at Lo-Chem.
Lo-Chem's face twisted from innocent to violently angry; he slammed his glass unto the table…splattering shards and liquid all over his hand.
"No!"
Sakal paused at the door and glanced back at Lo-Chem.
"The enemy draws near; we must move at once!" he rasped with anger.
Sakal was silent; his eyes narrowed to slits.
"My friend…you have had had quite the experience. You need to rest."
"He doesn't trust you. He thinks you've lost your mind." His father said.
Lo-Chem glanced back at Sakal…and pierced him with his eyes.
"You mustn't let him get in the way. The fate of our people hangs in the balance."
A twisted and phony smile spread across his lips; he rose to his feet and stepped a pace closer to Sakal.
"Perhaps you are right. Perhaps I need some rest. Will you continue the mission in my stead?"
Sakal was silent for a moment; his eyes were wide and searching. His lower lip started to quiver as if to speak…but he stopped himself.
"Will you help?" Lo-Chem's put on a look of helplessness; Sakal relaxed slightly.
"I will,"
Lo-Chem patted him on the shoulder…then passed him into the corridor.
As Sakal watched him leave…he pondered the feeling of regret building more and more in the pit of his stomach.