CHAPTER 3:
THE PRISONER
Platina shivered from more than just the frigid air that clung to her damp cold skin. The howl of a guard dog loomed in the distance under a heavy shadow cast by a tall fence. Armored troops marched in tight formation around that fence and even in the dark, starless sky, their coats of metal glistened under wavering torch-lights that buckled and flared in the rain-spackled wind. Somewhere in the darkness, the sound of hoofed feet crashed against the mottled earth and, like a phantom in the night, a black mare bust from the shadows, racing up the road with a shrouded rider guiding its reigns. The rider's cloak whipped and flailed in the winds reminding her of unspeakable demons from her worst nightmares.
A firm hand grasped her trembling shoulder and she immediately looked over to see Heather shoving her finger to her lips.
"Calm down!" The redhead ordered. The two women were crouching low behind a collection of large rocks on a small overhang that jumped out from the earth just before the surrounding landscape dipped down a low hill into a dusty clearing where, several yards away, the tall fence surrounded a wide building with a flat roof. No villager ever ventured this far unless they had official business. Others came only against their will and for those unfortunate souls, the world they knew was forever changed.
Heather frowned bitterly as she glared at the aged building with fire in her eyes. "We used to call this place the death trap." She whispered. "Somewhere in that hell, a band of slavers roped my brother up and sold him off to Villnore."
Platina bit her lip, struggling to control her nerves. "W- we're just going to look right?"
Heather rolled her jaw and her eyes shimmered in the night for a moment. At length she sighed. "Yeah… yeah, we're just going to look." She turned with her back against the tall rock that hid their presence and looked down at her shivering friend. "Relax! If you keep shaking like that, someone's gonna hear your teeth chattering!"
Platina's eyes grew as wide as saucers and she immediately covered her mouth. "Do you think they heard us?" She asked in a muffled voice.
Heather smirked and shook her head. "That was supposed to be a joke." She whispered.
Platina blushed and Heather shrugged. "Never mind. We can't see much from over here but since it's raining, those red coats should have a harder time hearing us!"
"But what about seeing us?" Platina blanched. "What's going to protect us from that?"
Heather waved her hand, turning around to return her gaze towards the village consulate. "It's night time, Platina. The shadows will cover us."
"But how can we be sure?"
"Stop whining!" Heather hissed.
"I'm not whining!"
"Yes you are!"
"No I'm 'not'" Platina bristled hotly.
Heather pinched the bridge of her nose and let out a pensive sigh. "Forget it! Look, just trust me, okay?"
"I 'am' trusting you! Why do you think I came all this way?"
"Shut up and let me finish, will you!" Heather glared, grinding her teeth. "We'll cut a path west and circle our way around, staying in the shadows. There're only four guards around the fence and another two at the gates. And I think I heard the sound of a dog barking."
"So did I." Platina nodded, keeping her voice low.
"So that means there's more security on the inside. We just don't know how much."
"So what do we do?"
Heather flashed her a bold grin. "Take a closer look, of course!" She shifted, pulling herself away from the rock when Platina clasped her arm tightly.
"Heather… I don't know about this!"
"Come on, Platina!" the redhead frowned. "After you've come this far, are you just going to back out now?"
"I'm just saying, this is a lot more dangerous than I thought! There's no way we can get through all that security!"
"Maybe." Heather grinned and looked down at her friend. "Or maybe not. But we won't know for sure unless we get a better look!"
Platina frowned. "I don't like this."
Heather pushed past her and motioned with her arm. "Come on! The longer we wait, the harder it'll be!"
Platina sighed and sank her head. "Please don't let this be a mistake…" she whispered softly. She stooped low and quickly caught up to her friend, following as close as she could.
Heather moved quick and kept herself low, staying in the shadows. But Platina never had a problem matching her friend's speed. They kept moving and Platina heard the loud drumming of her racing heart with every dreadful step she took. Seconds passed into minutes and to Platina, those minutes felt like hours. She felt as though they'd crept for days when finally, Heather extended her hand, bringing her to a stop.
The fence was only a few feet away from them, and now that Platina had a better look, it was a lot taller than she'd first thought it was. The echo of barking and prancing feet rang just beyond those rising planks of grey and Platina shivered.
Heather placed a calming hand on her shoulder and slowly eased left in a series of crouching sidesteps, trying to get a better angle. Platina swallowed the lump in her throat and followed as goose bumps ran up and down her legs and spine.
"I hate that dog." A voice echoed in the distance.
Platina froze and Heather quickly shoved her hand over her head, pushing her into the rain-soaked mud. She quickly bit back her yelp and covered her mouth as she lay flat against the wet earth. Both women watched with wide eyes from the shadows as a pair of armored men walked casually into view.
"Can't be helped." The second guard replied with a shrug and a lazy swagger to his step. "The dirty mutt was here before us. Besides, he does his job. Get used to it."
"Bah!" The first man threw his arms up as they walked. "Just my luck to get stuck in this piss-poor village with a half dead dog barkin on my ass and a town full of rotten soil that couldn't grow a weed if it wanted to."
"Be thankful you're not stationed in Artolia or Gerebellum. Personally, I'll take a piss-poor village any day over a town full of cut throats and rebels who could knife you at a moment's notice when your back's turned."
The first guard stopped and both men stood just several feet away from the two women. "Whatever. Hey! What's the story with the rider?"
"Ah you mean Harold? Damn fool forgot his sword again."
"Are you serious?" The first man let out a barking laugh. "How the hell did a guy like that make it into Villnore anyway?"
The second man laughed and shook his head. "Beats me! But personally, I'd rather have him here at the consulate than wandering around town, embarrassing us in front of all those villagers. Hey! Let's go rile him up a little; give him a fancy scare!"
The first man turned and the two men began walking again. "Do you think we should? What about our patrol?"
"Pfft. Nobody ever comes around here. These are the slave pens! Trust me, nothing's going to happen if we take a break for five or ten minutes."
The other man shrugged. "Yeah, I guess not. Okay. So what do you have in mind?"
The second man wrapped his arm around the first and the two continued their heated debate, heedless of the two women who eyed them only a few feet away.
"Now's our chance!" Heather hissed in Platina's ear. Platina shivered as doubt strangled her nerves. But the redhead still rose to a crouch, listening until the guards footfalls faded into the distant rain.
"Come on!" She grabbed Platina's shoulder and the two women scrambled in a frantic run towards the fence. A shadow peeled along the edge and Heather dove beneath its cover with Platina close behind.
The redhead gulped air as her breath fell out in harsh gasps. "I don't think they heard us!" She flashed her wild eyes towards Platina and ran her fingers through her tangled hair. "How are you doing, Platina - Talk to me!"
Platina gulped and took a deep breath, struggling to control her shaking nerves. "Why are we doing this?" She whispered.
"Nuh uh! None of that, you hear me?" Heather gripped her arm, pulling her close. "We're in this too deep to falter now! Platina, you have to be strong!"
Platina gazed at her friend helplessly and swallowed again, shivering as rain showered her frightened face. Heather shook her again. "Platina!"
Heather's eyes were frantic now and Platina willed her nerves enough to give a strangled nod. "O - okay… L- let's just get this over with…"
Heather stared at her pensively for several more seconds then released her grip and sprang her head left and right. The rain pattered all around them but they could hear no sound of approaching feet. Heather rolled her tongue over her damp lips then gazed up at the top of the fence. "Give me a boost!" she hissed.
Platina blinked in shock. "What?!?"
"I said give me a boost!"
"This is crazy!" Platina swiped her arm. "They'll hear us if I give you a-"
"Just do it!" Heather hissed.
Platina shook her head and cupped her hands together with her palms out. Heather quickly stepped into her friend's grasp and Platina buckled and her hands broke apart.
"Hold it steady!" Heather whispered.
"I'm trying!"
"Try harder!"
Platina grumbled but spread her feet for balance. Heather pushed her weight into Platina's grasp once more. Platina shuddered but this time, she didn't lose her grip. Heather quickly lifted her other foot from the ground. Platina gasped at the extra weight and the redhead turned quickly in her grip before springing towards the wall, catching the upper edge with her hands. Her body gave a dull clap against the grey wood but to their fortune, the rain almost completely drowned out the noise. Nevertheless, both women paused, looking both ways.
Rain continued the patter in all directions. Platina blinked her eyes and rolled her shoulders from their recent strain. She squinted her eyes and edged closer to the shadow of the wall but still she could see nothing under the flailing torchlight above.
"Platina!" Heather's whisper trailed down and the violet haired woman quickly looked up.
Her friend was hanging to the wall like a cat as her head peered over the fence before looping back down to look at her. "I see the dog! It's near the other side of the consulate. If we're quiet, I think we can sneak over without drawing attention to ourselves."
"You 'think'?!?"
"Don't start! I can barely keep my grip. I'm going over!"
Platina's hand clenched with anxiety as she watched her red haired friend quietly scale the rest of the way over the fence. Her body disappeared over the other side but the tips of her fingers were still visible over the end.
After a few moments, Heather's head popped over the side with a strained smile. "Okay." She grunted. She squirmed before looping one arm over the edge and held it out to Platina, her face still locked in concentration. "Grab my hand. Quietly though. Don't make a sound!"
Platina gulped. She felt nervous. What if she messed up? What if they saw her? She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. This wasn't helping them. She narrowed her eyes and bobbed her head with a fickle confidence. "Okay." She whispered.
Taking another breath, she looked both ways once more then pressed herself against the grey wall. Looking up, she reached her right hand up and jumped. Her fingers barely grazed Heather's before gravity pulled her back down to the muddy earth with a dull plop. Her nerves froze and her breath lodged in her throat.
"Hurry!" Heather hissed, jarring her from her fears.
Platina licked her lips and looked up at her friend. She jumped again, higher and this time her fingers locked with Heather's. Heather gripped her friend's fingers for dear life and her brows contorted into an angry knot as she pulled. Platina pushed up against the wall of the fence as much as she dared, trying to make as little noise as possible. For a heart wrenching instant, she feared her grip would fail. But then, Heather pulled harder, lifting her high enough to grip her left hand over the edge.
Platina heaved, pulling her arm over the edge while Heather relaxed her grip and lowered herself to the ground. Platina struggled, finally managing to pull herself over the side. But suddenly her fingers slipped and she lost her grip. She gasped as she tumbled down but suddenly stopped, falling into Heather's arms instead.
"Ugh! My God, Platina! What have you been eating?"
Platina frowned and Heather quickly lowered her to the ground.
"That was close!"
Heather nodded. "Just don't do that again!"
Platina shivered. Suddenly, the world was a lot darker, shadowed on all sides by the surrounding fence. She struggled to push the lump down her throat. "How are we going to get back out?"
"Same way we got in!" Heather whispered.
"But won't the guards be back by then?"
"Not if we hurry!" Heather hissed and pushed a finger to her lips. "Now shush! Move with me and stay close!"
Platina nodded, raising her hands to her chin in fear. Heather crouched low under the pouring rain and quickly sprang across the field, scrambling as silently as she could over to the flat brown wall of the consulate. The field was relatively empty. Neither woman could see any sign of a guard anywhere. But that didn't give them any comfort.
Suddenly a distant noise jingled ahead of them. The outer gates rattled as they were pulled open and a pool of voices filtered through to the other side. The guards had finally made their way through. Platina bristled and Heather pushed her in the opposite direction. "Go! Hurry!" She hissed and they both slithered as fast as they could towards the back of the wooden building. The footfalls of the guards echoed, clapping against the muddy earth before they stopped and the sound of a rattling doorknob took it's place.
Heather and Platina were flat against the wall, nearly on the other side of the building. Heather breathed. "Did you hear that?"
"Hear what?" Platina's reply was breathless, soaking with fear.
"No keys!"
Platina shook her head in confusion with a puzzled look.
Heather waved her hand, ushering her further back. "To the back!" She whispered. "Hurry."
Platina nodded to her command and inched around the corner, peeking on the other side. To her relief, the dog was nowhere in sight. She carefully stepped along the corner, seeing a rusty door on the other side next to a pair of tall, oak barrels. Heather joined her on the other side and leaned against the wall, fingering the door handle. She gently pushed in each direction, testing the lock. To their relief, there was none.
"See?" Heather whispered. "No keys!" She pushed against the aged wood and the door slowly crooned open. Heather paused after a few inches and slithered inside the parted incision. Platina looked both ways then quickly did the same.
The room was completely dark inside with only a sliver of light peeling through from the opened door. Platina gulped.
"Close the door." Heather whispered and the violet haired woman complied. She pushed the door closed and it produced a dull squeak that sent shivers up her spine. Heather immediately pulled her back. Platina blinked. She couldn't see anything but immediately felt her body tumble and press against several barrels. Large dark casks sat before her and seconds later, another light pierced the darkness from a far door at the other end of the room.
From the light, they could see the shadow of armor as a man looked around.
"What's wrong?" A disembodied voice echoed from behind the opened door.
"Nothing." The man, replied, looking around one final time. "Thought I heard something, is all. Probably just the mice, again."
"Yeah yeah," The disembodied voice returned. "Anything to get out of losing another game. Come on back so I can win more oth from you!"
After a moment more, the man's body disappeared from the opening and the door slowly closed, bathing both women back into the bowels of darkness.
Platina released a pent up breath she didn't realize she was holding. She gripped Heather's arm. "How can you be so calm?" She whispered in fear.
Heather shrugged, whispering back. "I used to sneak out of my parents house all the time, remember? Lot's of practice. Now, shush… follow me!"
Platina nodded and both women silently crept through the darkness. Platina's hands felt her way as she tried not to run into anything. Heather held her hand while she waved her other hand before her, searching around. After several more paces Heather finally stopped and pushed back against the darkness. Platina moved in the same direction, feeling her shoulder pressing against a wall.
Heather leaned closer and Platina could feel her friend's warm breath against her ear as she whispered. "Go straight. Make as little noise as you can."
Platina nodded. "Okay." She whispered in reply and crept silently forward. Heather walked with her, still holding her hand as they moved. Platina had never felt so nervous in her entire life. She continued walking until Heather stopped her with a yank.
"I see something." The redhead whispered.
Platina squinted her eyes in the darkness and she could barely make out the rectangular outline of a door. She nodded her head. "I see it too."
Together both women moved forward and Heather pressed against the wooden door. Very gently, she tested the handle and it gave in. She licked her lips and pushed as slowly as she dared. A soft squeak peeled out but nowhere near as loud as the door leading back outside. She pushed further as gentle and slow as she could and a column of light filled the room, momentarily blinding them. Both women Squinted as they stared into a narrow, dusty hall that bent up and to the left. The wall was lined with torches, lighting the room and the floor was matted with hay. The two women made their way to the other side and Heather gently pushed the door back closed.
Platina rubbed her shoulders briskly. "At least now we can see again." She whispered.
Heather nodded and slowly crept up the narrow hallway. A moan suddenly jumped out from the distance and Platina gasped, covering her mouth. Another moan soon followed and a wracking sob caught the air. Shuffling noises could be heard and soon their ears burned with the sounds of several different noises and wails. Disparity permeated the room like a plague.
"The slave pens." Heather confirmed.
Platina clutched her hand to her chest but the redhead pressed her back against the wall and inched further down the hall. Once they reached the bend, Heather leaned her head around the corner. There were no guards in sight. Instead the room was lined on either side with rows of cages where gangly, thin arms reached past rusty bars grasping nothing. Some slaves shook their cages while others wailed to be set free.
Platina's heart ached at the pitiable noises. Heather's eyes were hard orbs of resolution as she scanned both sides before finally seeing a closed door at the end of the hall. She swallowed and looked back over towards her friend.
"There's a door at the end. That's probably where they're keeping the prisoner."
"But what about the others?" Platina winced. "We… we can't just leave them here?"
"Weren't you the one who said all we could do was look?" Heather's voice was skeptically. "I want to help them too but there's nothing we can do for them. All that'll happen is us getting caught and then we'll be in the same boat they are."
Platina squirmed and frowned with a heavy sigh, raising her pale hands over her ears to block out the dreadful sounds. "Let's just get this over with."
Heather nodded and moved past the corner into the main room. The imprisoned villagers immediately seized their bars at the new face.
"Please!" One wailed! "Let me out! I'll give you anything!"
"Water!" Another cried. "I'm so thirsty."
"Are you here to rescue us? Our prayers have been answered!"
Platina was on the verge of tears as she watched the pitiable captives that wore hope in their eyes with such hunger, they looked as though they'd starved for years. They were a variety of men and women; some were children, others were adults, and a few were elderly folk.
Heather raised her finger to her lip, shushing them as she briskly walked through. "Quiet!" She told them in a low voice. "Or they'll catch us! Then nobody will help you!"
The captives immediately caught on and muffled whispers scattered about the room, all filled with hope. Platina felt sick but followed her friend to the end of the hall.
The door was simple and wooden but there were traces of blood smeared against the floor, and the door itself was chipped as if something had been banged against it. Heather pushed the door open and the room's light spilled forth against a dark partition. There, the room was empty except for a dark huddled mass, sitting at the end. The floor and walls were made of cement and thick iron chains extended from both ends of the back wall where a man's arms were stretched out and bound. He was leaning in dark clothing that Platina thought vaguely reminded her of the under clothing of the Villnore soldiers. His tunic was torn open where scores of angry red gashes lined his body. The man had been whipped! The realization chilled her and she stared towards his face. His head was bent low under a sagging mane of drooping auburn locks.
The man coughed and winced at the new light and slowly raised his head. Suddenly, Platina's world stopped! The long, angular face was older now but still framed between drooping bangs; the clear, blue eyes that reminded her so often of Ourellea's waves; even the smooth, defined chin, now studded with a shadow of hair; they all betrayed a reality she wasn't ready to face, a possibility that she never dared to hope upon. Her breath caught sharp in her throat and her hands rose quickly to her pounding heart. But it was the man who spoke first, in a voice so familiar yet lost over the years and preserved only in her dreams.
"Platina…?"
Platina breathed past her trembling lips in a parched whisper. "L- Lucian!?!"
:::::To Be Continued:::::
:::::Author's Note: Thank you for reading! Please stay tuned for Chapter 4; Remnants of Yesterday.
Writing Gamer 12/25/08