Chapter 4: Jail Break!
I'm startled awake by the sound of dripping water. My back hurts against the hard surface I'm laying against. I try moving my arm but it won't respond, and it's the same with my legs. I hate when I'm so sleepy and tired that I can't even more my body.
Okay, just a couple minuets and it will come back to me; I just need to take a few deep breaths. Feeling is starting to return to my body. Get ready world, here I come.
I go to sit up, but my body remains glued to my bed. I open my eyes to assess the situation.
Wait, did I forget how to how to open my eyes? I move my hand in front of my face, and can barely make out the image in this complete darkness. Moving my hands around more, I notice a cold metal surface below me, and a metal bar across my chest. That would explain why I was unable to get up.
"Looks like he's finally awake," a voice says from around me.
"It's only been two days," another voice says, and he shall now be known as voice two.
"Yea but the silver haired one woke up in less than a day." Wait, silver hair, is voice one talking about Genis? I hope he's all right. Maybe I can blast them with some fire and get away. Then again, either they'd impale me with some sort of sharp object or I'd trip over a fly and kill myself.
"Well, I doubt we can get much money out of this one, so should we just kill him?" voice two says. I don't like that idea. Dieing is not on my list of things to do today.
"Nah, after all the effort we went though to capture them, it would be a waste." I let out a sigh of relief. I'm not going to die, at least not yet.
"So Halfling," voice one says to me, "I'm sure you'd like to know what's going on here."
"Yea, what happened?" As I speak, I notice my throat is extremely dry. I can barely talk, but I need to learn what's going on here.
"We've been tracking your friend for a while. The king made the foolish decision to free those sub-humans from their research. We can't afford to let all the hard work over the years go to waste. The Tethe'allans can't fall to the level of those barbarous Sylveranti." So, I guess things aren't perfect after the worlds combined. I guess it's to be expected though.
"What do you plan on doing to us?"
"There are several possibilities," voice one explains, "Our job was simply to find powerful half-elves and turn them in to Lord Orion."
"Jason, stop telling him everything," voice two commands.
"Come on Andrew, it's not like this weakling can do anything to stop us. He didn't even try fighting back." Sadly, they are right. Even if I had the time to charge fireball, it probably wouldn't have done anything.
"True, now let's go pay that brat back for killing our comrades." After hearing them unsheathe their blades, I knew things could go badly for Genis. Obviously, they had been able to capture both of us, no doubt due to my weakness. If I can somehow get out of here, maybe I can find Genis and get us both out of here. I know I can't fight, but if I get to Genis undetected, we might stand a chance. That would first involve me getting out of here, something that won't be easy.
I try struggling against the metal that's holding me, but to no avail. I'm more awake now, so maybe I can use my magic to help. As I concentrate on the mana to unleash fireball, absolutely nothing happens. I guess I'm just a pathetic mage after all. Maybe I can somehow slide out of this restraint. I try to pull my chest down through it, but it won't budge. I push myself against the metal bed, trying to get some space to move but to no avail.
All of a sudden, I notice a familiar presence in the room. "Less than a week here and you already need rescuing?"
"Sydney, what are you doing here?"
"Considering we are at least partly responsible for this, it's only right we help you out some." He unlocks the guard keeping me restrained and helps me back to my feet. As I get up, I notice that my shoulder still hurts from the spear that was in it. It seems to have mostly healed though since I'm able to move it.
"Anyway I can just go back home now? I've learned what ever lesson there is like me not taking things for granted."
"Tiger, I think you've been watching too much TV. This isn't just a simple lesson for you."
"Then what is this?"
"Follow me," he says opening the door. Is it just me or did he completely avoid my question? I just stand there hoping for some explanation. He goes out of the room, and I guess he's leaving me in the dark in more that one way.
I run to catch up to him, and we exit into a bright hallway, that forces me to close my eyes. They had gotten used to the dark for so long so this much light is too much. "Don't worry; your eyes will adjust soon."
"The prisoner is escaping," a guard says as about a half dozen approach our location.
"I recommend you back down," Sydney said as he ran his hand through his brown hair. "I'd rather not have to kill you."
The guards unsheathe their swords and I take several steps back putting Sydney in the middle of us. I really hope he knows what he's doing. A white glow around him answers my questions and a sword comes out of nowhere that he grasps. "I repeat, retreat if you want to live."
They charge at him, but he blocks their attacks, and in a swift movement, slices his blade through several of them. "Prison break!" one yells, and soon sirens go off throughout this place.
"They're going to catch us."
"Mental strike, lure," Sydney says as a flash of light burst from his body. It didn't seem to harm the soldiers any, but magic can seem that way at first. "That will make them go after me and hopefully ignore you. Go find Genis and get out of here."
"Are you sure you can handle it?"
"Don't worry my friend. I'll see you again soon."
Running away, I can hear the clash of steel behind me. I've seen how strong he is, but I hope it will be enough. He seemed to know what he was getting into though. Unless…
Maybe he's just doing this so I can escape. I stop and think about running back to save him. He could know we don't have anyway out, so he's just doing this to save my life. I don't want him to die though. Even if I went back, it wouldn't make much of a difference. I'd just die too, and then his sacrifice would be in vain. I hope that I'm wrong and we'll both get out alive, but it still worries me.
I continue running down the corridors, but fatigue is continually persuading me to slow down. I can't let it stop me though, I won't fall this easily.
A scream of pain stops me in my tracks. It sounds just like Genis. I take off toward to source and more screams fill the air. Hang on buddy, I'll be there soon.
His cries of pain, lead me to the room they are keeping him in, and I slowly open the door. "Anaka, heal the whelp again so I can keep on attack him."
"Even my magic won't keep him alive if this continues for much longer."
"Don't worry, I know that. I'm just having some fun."
"Just remember Jason, Lord Orion will cut off your money if you kill such a valuable asset."
"Yea yea, are all you elves so stuck up?" I slowly sneak into the room and see Genis strapped to a wall. Jason is holding a sword covered in the half-elf's blood with an elf holding a staff beside him. Her gold hair reminds me of all the fantasy stories about elves back on earth, but it's obvious she's just helping that jerk torture Genis. They will pay.
I look around the room for something I can use as a weapon since I'm unarmed, and can't use magic well enough to fight my way out of a paper bag. This room looks like a chemistry laboratory with various chemicals and potions around the room. I sneak behind the counters, hoping to avoid the gaze of their captors. I look at the containers on the counter, and notice a container labeled sodium. There is also a sink nearby. I hope I remember this correctly…
I quietly fill another glass with water, grab the container of sodium and then run at Genis and his captors.
"Who is this?" Anaka asks as they turn around.
"Looks like that prisoner some how got up and came to help his friend. I guess we have to kill him after all." He aims his sword at me but I jump back in time to dodge it.
"Don't underestimate me," I say throwing the two containers at his feet, causing an explosion. He falls to the ground and I see blood pour out from his legs onto the ground.
"Damn it! Anaka heal my legs before they get away."
I'm not going to give him that chance as I run to Genis and undo the straps holding him to the wall. Even in the dark room, I can see the pain he has been through. I still see a red liquid running down the wall.
"Thanks Tiger."
"You okay?"
"Not really, but well enough to get out of here." Jason is trying to get back to his feet, but he quickly falls, obviously not fully healed
I take off for the door, before Jason can get back on his feet and come after us again. I look behind me, and notice Genis is at the other side of the room. Doesn't he know the door is this way?
He notices my glace and runs back to me. "Sorry, I had to grab my kendama."
I guess him having a weapon like that could help. After all, if he can harness his magic easier, it will help us get out of here alive, and in my book, staying alive is normally a good thing, although, I have absolutely no idea how to do this. "Any idea of how we can get out of here?" I ask.
He shakes his head. "Maybe if we can take one of them prisoner, he can give us instructions."
"Good plan," I say as we continue running, looking for a vulnerable target.
"I've found them," a guard says.
That's what he thinks; now we have him. I try harnessing the mana around us for my fireball spell, but I still can't seem to grab any. Oh well, Genis should be able to take him down with out me.
Except for the fact that he isn't along for long. Soon though, an army nearly a dozen strong surrounds us, and there is nowhere to run. This is bad.
_
A/N: It's been less than a month since my late update! Another battle is coming, so will Tiger be useless this time, or just get in the way? I've decided to incorporate some of the events and characters from the second game, but Tiger's knowledge is limited to the first. Hopefully I can update soon and thanks for reading and reviewing.