“How long have you been here?”
“No clue.”
“What?”
“Do you see a window in your cell? I sure as shit don’t have one. They don’t bring meals on a regular schedule. Sometimes it feels like we get three meals, and at other times it might be one. There’s no way to gauge the passage of time.”
Shey glanced around his cell. There was no window in there to give a peek of the outside world. The tiny window in the door at the end of the hall seemed as if it peered out into another hallway. Days, weeks, or even months could pass in there, and they’d have no way of knowing.
Yeah, that wasn’t going to happen. At this point, his mother and the few leaders in Caspagir who knew of his plan had to be frantic. That was yet another reason he couldn’t linger here long. Someone was bound to do something reckless and stupid if he didn’t contact the Caspagir government soon.
“You’re the fourth male to be brought in since I arrived. I’ve seen three women too.” The other prisoner’s voice had dipped so low Shey struggled to hear him. “The women lasted the shortest amount of time. It’s Scarella’s voice. It breaks them faster, I think. She gets what she wants out of them, and my guess is that she kills them.”
“Doesn’t set them free?”
A bitter snort came from the next cell over. “Kidnapping people off the streets who did nothing wrong. They’re threatened. Beaten. Do you think they can afford to let thesepeople go? People who can at least identify their faces? Nah. She’s killing them. Well, not her personally. She’s not the type to want to get her hands dirty. Can’t risk breaking a nail. Her goons are killing them.”
Yeah, that seemed true.
“Piece of free advice…”
“Really? No charge? You don’t even want my yellow goo?” Shey mocked.
A choked laugh echoed through the prison. “Bastard. That’s supposed to be pasta salad, and the taste is poisonous. I’m keeping my free advice to myself now.”
A reluctant smile tugged at one corner of Shey’s mouth. At least his companion was entertaining, or maybe he was simply grateful to have someone to break up the monotony. “Don’t be like that. You’ve gotta help the new guy.”
There was a long silence that stretched through the prison before the other prisoner finally let out an elaborate sigh.
“Okay. Fine. Only because you’ve been alittleinteresting to talk to. My advice is that no matter what Scarella says, don’t believe her. No matter what deal she tries to strike, what bargain she offers, or even her threats against you and your family. Don’t believe her.”
Shey hadn’t planned on it, but it was reassuring to have his cellmate say what he’d already been thinking. “Your free advice is pretty damn cheap.”
“Maybe, but think of the time I’ve saved you from figuring it out on your own. Now you can spend your ample time left figuring out how the hell we’re going to get out of here.”
Shey sat up and turned his head toward the wall as if to stare at his companion. “We, huh? What makes you so confident that I’m going to figure a way out of here or that I’d even take you with me? I could be like all the others you’ve seen come and go in here.”
“We’regoing to figure a way out,” he corrected Shey. “And we’re getting out of here together because we need each other. There’s no way one person can do it. There are too many guards with too many weapons. We don’t even know what we face outside of the building. We could be walking out into a desert or a mountain. Two is better than one.”
Shey smirked. “Have you made this pitch to all the other prisoners?” He was starting to appreciate this guy’s sensibility, even if he was a little crazy about coffee. Still didn’t trust him, though.
“Nope.”
Shey scoffed. “Yeah, I believe that.”
The stranger’s voice didn’t waver but remained calm and even, full of confidence. “I haven’t. Scarella made a serious mistake when she grabbed you.”
“Why is that?”
“You’re not some poor slob from the street. You’re educated. I think you might have even spent some time in the military. I can hear it in your voice. Plus, she’s cautious with you. She does that brief visit with everyone to feel them out. But with you, she had twice the normal number of guards with her. Also, it didn’t take you long at all to pull yourself together after you learned of her fear trick. You’re getting out of here, and you’re taking me with you.”
For several minutes, Shey said nothing. He didn’t trust the other man, but he wasn’t looking for trust. There was a deep truth in what he was saying—they needed each other to escape this place and survive more than five feet from the building. Sure, Shey could blast through the building with all the magic he had in him, but it would reveal the secrets he’d tucked away and put his kingdom in danger.
Yet, while he might have found a potential comrade-in-arms to help him fight his way through, Shey was smart enough toknow that he couldn’t underestimate this person. There was wisdom in his words. A calmness that came with age and experience, even though he sounded young to Shey’s ears.
“What’s your name?” Shey inquired, breaking the silence.
“You can call me Ty. Get some rest,Shawn. You’re going to need it if we’re going to get out of here. I’m done drinking the shit they call coffee.”
