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At this point it’s a bit of stubbornness along with some truth in that statement. It would make it a lot easier if I had someone to back me up, even if they are pretty pitiful.
Her fire fades a bit at my apology, but I have to resist sighing when I see the spark of fear in her eyes.
“Do you have any idea what they would do to us if we try and fail?” she whispers, her voice cracking a bit at the end. I cringe, cursing my own vivid imagination.
“Failure isn’t an option,” I tell her firmly and she surprises me by barking out a small laugh.
“So you say,” she replies.
Thirty
Axle
“What the fuck is taking so long?” I all but growl to myself as I pace. Dropping off John’s mutilated corpse apparently didn’t have the desired effect, since I haven’t seen even a hint of the skinheads all day. I had hoped they would revolt and cause a scene, but those pitiful losers are notably absent.
It’s late in the afternoon and everything in here is quiet, way too quiet. Usually there is something going on in the yard, random gamblers and people just hanging around. A low murmur almost always heard of the hundreds of voices that comprise the occupants of The Tomb.
Today is almost silent though.
In the seconds before the start of a fight, the world seems to slow down. Every heartbeat seems to last an hour and the anticipation of waiting even a few seconds more seems unbearable.
That is what this feels like. On the cusp of something catastrophic and violent, the entire prison holding its breath and waiting for whatever’s next.
I don’t doubt they know Ana is gone by now, otherwise I’d have a lot of fucking people at my door right now. Whether they think she gave herself up or know the skinheads gave her up is almost irrelevant, either way I’m sure everyone has noticed the water and electricity are both still off. Thank fuck for Ana’s foresight in stockpiling some water, but even still it won’t be enough to last more than a few days.
Don’t worry, baby, I’ll be right back…
Slamming my palm into my forehead twice, I decide I can’t stay here and stay still anymore. I need…something.
That’s a lie. I know what I need and it’s Ana, but first…
Ethan is walking towards me, his clothes filthy and damp but there is a brightness in his eyes that wasn’t there earlier today. I checked in on him a few hours ago but there was still more to be done below.
“Is it clear?” I ask impatiently before Ethan’s even come to a full stop in front of me. My eyes dart behind him but I don’t see the other inmates who had been working below with him.
“Not quite,” he replies with a shake of his head, “but it’s close. The men needed a short break but we’re all meeting below again in about an hour. We’ll be done getting through tonight then we can decide next steps.”
I feel my insides clench at the thought of waiting even another minute, but Ethan seems so pleased with the progress that I just grunt.
“I….” Before I have a chance to continue, the crackle of the loudspeakers sounds around us. My entire body tenses immediately and I don’t pause to listen, immediately speed walking towards the front gate. Oh please, let Dick come out. Fence fucking gate or no, there is nothing that will keep me from ripping that asshole apart. A vicious sort of joy courses through me at the thought and the corner of my lip actually tips up.
I hear footsteps following me as the disjointed voice speaks overhead, barely intelligible.
“Occ—-D—9—You——leader—-now”
I have not a fucking clue what was said, but the word leader comes through clearly. My heart pounds in my chest when I realize they must be talking about Ana and my pace quickens to the point I’m running.
I don’t halt my momentum, crashing into the gated interior fence just as the large outer gates begin their slow creek open. My fingers are threaded through the mesh, my chest heaving as the first sliver opens and a blinding sun shines through. Immediately I have to throw up a hand to protect my eyes. I haven’t seen sunshine from that direction in….God, so long. The guards never open the gates at this time of day and the light is incredible. A few gasps are heard from the corners of the yard as the brilliance illuminates’ corners of The Tomb that haven’t touched the light of day in twenty years.
Ethan finally comes up to a halt behind me, and I see inmates crowding around the edge of the yard.
My eye’s water in the light but I don’t look away, watching as a silhouette walks through the open gates and towards us. My teeth gnash together in anticipation of seeing the man himself and I let my eyes roam over the mesh in front of me, shaking it lightly. I really should have taken this thing down a long time ago.
Once again, the world seems to slow down as the figure takes a few more steps inside and I feel my forehead scrunch as a second figure is revealed as the light subtly shifts. A much smaller silhouette becomes clearer, and a choked noise releases from my throat when I realize who it is.
“Why the fuck is Ana walking in here with Dick?” Ethan mutters behind me, echoing the thoughts in my own head. The momentary blindness is gone as my eyes adjust to the light and I can clearly see it is Ana, walking without being bound. My heart pumps in my chest as I watch her, head held high like always. My eyes roam her body, but she looks mostly unharmed other than her lip looks a bit swollen. A low growl builds up in my throat when I start thrashing and shaking against the gate keeping me from her.
Fire burns deep inside me, igniting to pure chaos when I see Dick put a hand on her shoulder, stopping her. She doesn’t flinch at his touch, barely reacting as she immediately takes her que and stops no more than ten feet from me. She never even looks at me.
