M.R9
There was an atmosphere since our last outside exercise period. The guards were rougher and shouted more. You know like someone higher up has come down on the underlings. Now they were coming down on us. It’s true what they say shit rolls down hill.
The guards were making more patrols than the days or weeks before. They seemed to be walking up and down the hall constantly. There was no distinction between them. So I had no idea if the softer one was ever near.
On one of the guards passes a note was tossed into my cell. I was up off my bed in a flash and palmed it. When I was a sure as I could be that there was no guard near I read the note.
“The boss is suspicious of you. We have been punished for not paying attention. She thinks your trouble. We have been ordered to keep a close eye on you. Keep a low profile. You are one step away from death. Don’t make any more moves until things calm down.”
For some reason, I could not fathom this guard was on our side.
Because of the new guard router exercise had to stop. Again I don’t know how long this is going to have to be like this but it made me feel stressed. Until they changed or I was able to find a new way to step things up. We are here for even longer.
The walls of my cell have very small cracks in them. While I have been here I have counted them. I have counted them on many occasions. Not one of those times have I counted the same number. Now if the number went up then nothing too out of the ordinary. The thing is the number goes down on one day there were just three cracks in my whole cell. On another day there was seventy-eight. If I wasn’t already be living in magic I was now.
I noticed that my meals came on metal dishes. Now I’m not sure on how things work around here but I have an idea I want to try. Nigel says he can manipulate metal. If this is true I want to see if he can do something with my dish.
“Hey Nigel. I’ve got an idea I want to try. Are you up for it?”
He scrutinised me for a moment. Looking at me like I was up to something. Which I was.
“Depends what is it?”
“I want to see if magic will work outside of our cells. The guards don’t use keys on them so there must be magic outside our cages.”
“Humm ok go on. I never tried this what are you thinking?”
“Yeah what are you thinking?”
Susan called excitedly from her cell.
“Shhh, Susan. I’m trying something out and don’t want everyone knowing yet.”
I paused for a second feeling annoyed over the interruption and lack of privacy.
“Nigel if I slide you my dish will you try and take a small part off it and turn it into something simple? Something like a needle?”
“Err yeah I will try but it won’t work.”
“Try doing it on this side of your bars.”
I slid the dish across the hall and it changed on his bars. His tiny hands reached out and took the dish. He held it up in both hands and closed his eyes in concentration.
I watched holding my breath. If this didn’t work then it was back to the drawing board. A long moment passed. Nothing seemed to be happening apart from Nigel's face turning red. His hands were shaking with the effort he was putting in. Then a small spark flicked from the dish and Nigel fell back.
The dish dropped from his grasp and Nigel laded on the floor of his cell gasping for air. I called to him concerned for him.
“Nigel are you ok?”
Sounding exhausted he answered.
“Yeah, that was hard. I could feel me. Power. It was there but only weak. I was separated. From it. The cell. Is stopping me.”
He had to stop every few words to get his breath. This was a glimmer of hope though. Out of the cells, the other magic users might have some power back as well.
“Don't worry Nigel. Do you think you could get stronger with practice?”
His breathing had eased when I asked him.
“Maybe. It won’t hurt to keep trying.”
Susan spoke now.
“Edd what are you up to. First the exercise now this. Oh and what was that spark Nigel?”
Nigel made a sound of a man who has just heard a dumb question.
“Is she serious?”
“Well she does have a good question. What was that spark?”
Nigel lost his shit for a second. He ran to the back of his cell and head-butted the wall. The sound of his head bouncing off the wall echoed down the hall. He turned around now with blood running down his face. Shouting in a strange language that I didn’t understand and from the tone, I think that was for the best. Eventually he came to a stop at the bars. Gasping and drooling with anger he spoke.
“That tiny spark was all I could get from the dish. Somewhere on the floor is a tiny needle.”
I was shocked. He had managed to do anything at all. So if what he is saying is correct I need to find a way to suppress the magic barrier. The guard needs to find a way to open up a two way conversation.
It was feeling like I was moving forward one step and taking two back. At this rate I will be worse off than when I started. Like everyone had said escape was near impossible. That still gave me hope near isn’t completely impossible. I need to play this game sensibly and take my time. You don’t rush a game of chess and I can’t rush this.
I call over to Nigel to send my dish back I want to see if there is a mark from where he did his magic. Also, I need it back before the guards come back to collect them.
“Hey, Nigel can you send me the dish back? Please.”
He didn’t answer and just tossed it back to me. I picked it up and inspected every millimetre. There was no sign of any damage. If anything it looked newer than before.
In the back of my head a familiar voice came to me. Sandy.
“Can I speak to you yet. I think you are getting used to life now?”
“Yes thank you for holding back. What is it?”
Talking in my head was not easy to get used to but like everything, I guess I will.
“I’m sorry but I have been watching you. In here. Your head. I know what you’re up to. I want to help. My cell has less resistance than the others as this is the only way I can communicate. They don’t know everything I can do.”
My heart skipped a beat. It was racing now pumped with adrenaline. Sandy came into my thoughts again.
“Calm down you’re going to have a heart attack if you don’t.”
“Ok sorry I just got excited. Can you tell me more?”
Mythical Rising 1The air was still but cold as I sat in my little rowing boat. Rod propped on the side. A light mist over the lake in the early morning light. Nothing ever bites at this time of day, not even the insects. It’s not the fishing that brings me out but nature. It’s like it talks to me.On days like this, I know that the trees are happy. Flowers will bloom. Bees will collect the nectar and plants will get pollinated. No matter what people do to the world life will go on.Nature has always been a huge part of my sixty-five years of life. My dad used to bring me into forests and leave me. From the age of eight, I was able to hunt kill gut and cook a squirrel. I could tell you what animal made what tracks and how long ago with a glance by the time I was ten. At eleven I was making weapons and shelters. By the time I was fifteen I was able to live for days in the wild with nothing but the clothes on my back to start. Schoo
Humanities crime 2I was tired up and gaged with some kind of strange rope and thrown into the back of a van. It was strange in that every time I moved it tightened up. I couldn’t see my bindings. My arms were behind my back. But every move made them get tighter.The van drove sensibly. No excessive revving of the engine. Smooth left and right turn. Easy breaking no sudden stops. After being in the back of the van for so long I started to get drowsy. It was an effort to stay awake. My mind worked overtime though. Fear and confusion making sleep impossible. It felt like we had been driving for at least six hours but not having a watch or the sun to look at I had no idea. Eventually the va stopped and the driver’s door opened and closed.The back doors didn’t open for minutes. I got to my feet and thought about making my escape. When the doors opened I was going to run at the man hopefully knocking him down. Then run. Run as fast as I could for a
When I opened my eyes there was no change in the light it was still dull. Not having a window or anything was giving me no idea of time. Nothing looked any different and to my disappointment, I was still in this cell.Voices we’re still chattering on around me but at least the one in my head was quiet. When I heard one of them shout.“The new guys awake.”How the fuck do they know that there is no way they can see me. I’m going to ask they don’t seem to care about asking questions.“How did you guys know I was awake?”It seemed like everyone had something to say all at the same time. Every voice at the same time shouted something. None of them made it to my ears it was too loud like trying to listen to every conversation in a bar at the same time. I never liked being in loud places my ears couldn’t cope with it. Someone shouted for them to be quiet.Then one voice came to me
Opening my eyes I found I was back in my cell. I didn’t want to call it my cell but it was looking more and more like it was going to be. Tossed on the floor was a small manual. On the front it simply said rules.“Hey you up?”The girl in the next cell called to me. I’ve just opened my eyes and they are talking to me already. How did she know I was awake.“Yeah. How did you know?”“ There is a telepathic unicorn here he knows when your awake if he wants.”“Oh ok. I forgot about him. What’s your name anyway?”“Susan.”“Susan?”Who the fuck has ever heard of an Orc called Susan. Don’t they normally have names like Mursha or zoguz? Weird things like that.“Yes, Susan. My parents thought it might help hide us if we took human names. Most of us have them now. To be honest it is easier to have a human name than a
M.R 5Time passed by. How much I don’t know and it was playing havoc with my mind. I wanted out of this place. I needed to get the Gnome to speak. He was always in the back of his cell in the darkest part. I had been trying to get him to talk for what felt like hours. Over and over I called to him always being polite. No matter how frustrated I got I refused to use bad language or raise my voice in anger. The others were getting mad at me but I would not stop. Susan even told me to stop.“Hey Eddie.”“Yeah.”“Shut up.”I have never known anyone who will never answer you if you don’t stop poking at them. Eventually they will give in. They might not give you the response you want but you will get one. At least there were two sets of bars and a hall way between us. So he wouldn’t be able to get to me. If it went the wrong way. Not that he would be able to punch me above my thigh. Gnome was th
M.R6The Elf started to walk with me. I had never listened so intently to anyone in my life. His voice was rough and raspy like he smoked heavily and had for many years.“Many years ago. Roughly three thousand to be closer to the point. That is what I should say. Humans and all other beings lived alongside one another. For a long time, we managed to keep peace. That is until a king took over the Humans. He preached that humans were the master race. That they had great numbers and better weapons. That they should not have to breathe the same air as none humans. That we were nothing more than animals that should be used in such a way. Slowly other humans began to start thinking like him. The way he did it was incredible. The way the story goes he rallied an army. An army so big no race could defeat them. They marched and rode across the country attacking any village they came to. No mercy was given. They gave no warning of their attacks. Before any of us knew what
M.R 7Time passes by so slowly when your locked in a tiny cell with nothing to do. But I don’t have nothing to do. I have plans to make and plotting to do.Having guards on a regular routine help. They don’t always get the guards attention but it was possible. One of the guards seemed a little different from the others. He or she would call us by name and not just bark orders at us. I don’t know if it is a man or woman because of the robotic voice. The figure again was indecipherable thanks to the uniforms. All the padding and array of weapons that I didn’t know the capability of.I was fe”eling like I was missing something. Something important. Then it hit me. My health was suffering. I could feel myself getting out of breath easier and I was just wanting to sleep all the time.This place was starting to get to me. It will not break me. I will not let my body become weak. Did the others in here feel the same and do the same
M.R8My exercise routine was rigorous and relentless. With no distractions and nothing better to do I worked out. I ran on the spot. Crunches touching knees with my elbows. Holding plank position. Press ups. Squats. Its amazing the amount of exercise you can do with no equipment when you out your mind to it.I will not let myself get out of shape. No one has ever escaped here until me. My determination was doubled. Now I had to figure out how to convince the others to work out.Nigel was watching me intently through the bars. I pushed my self harder. Watching him slowly creep closer. Inch by inch he got. It was like trying to catch a wild animal. Ignore it let it think you haven’t seen it wait until it is close enough to catch. Then pounce. That’s what I was doing now waiting to get Nigel in a position that he can’t get away from without losing face to the others.If I judge this right he will have no choice but to start working out. He
M.R9There was an atmosphere since our last outside exercise period. The guards were rougher and shouted more. You know like someone higher up has come down on the underlings. Now they were coming down on us. It’s true what they say shit rolls down hill.The guards were making more patrols than the days or weeks before. They seemed to be walking up and down the hall constantly. There was no distinction between them. So I had no idea if the softer one was ever near.On one of the guards passes a note was tossed into my cell. I was up off my bed in a flash and palmed it. When I was a sure as I could be that there was no guard near I read the note.“The boss is suspicious of you. We have been punished for not paying attention. She thinks your trouble. We have been ordered to keep a close eye on you. Keep a low profile. You are one step away from death. Don’t make any more moves until things calm down.”For some reason, I could
M.R8My exercise routine was rigorous and relentless. With no distractions and nothing better to do I worked out. I ran on the spot. Crunches touching knees with my elbows. Holding plank position. Press ups. Squats. Its amazing the amount of exercise you can do with no equipment when you out your mind to it.I will not let myself get out of shape. No one has ever escaped here until me. My determination was doubled. Now I had to figure out how to convince the others to work out.Nigel was watching me intently through the bars. I pushed my self harder. Watching him slowly creep closer. Inch by inch he got. It was like trying to catch a wild animal. Ignore it let it think you haven’t seen it wait until it is close enough to catch. Then pounce. That’s what I was doing now waiting to get Nigel in a position that he can’t get away from without losing face to the others.If I judge this right he will have no choice but to start working out. He
M.R 7Time passes by so slowly when your locked in a tiny cell with nothing to do. But I don’t have nothing to do. I have plans to make and plotting to do.Having guards on a regular routine help. They don’t always get the guards attention but it was possible. One of the guards seemed a little different from the others. He or she would call us by name and not just bark orders at us. I don’t know if it is a man or woman because of the robotic voice. The figure again was indecipherable thanks to the uniforms. All the padding and array of weapons that I didn’t know the capability of.I was fe”eling like I was missing something. Something important. Then it hit me. My health was suffering. I could feel myself getting out of breath easier and I was just wanting to sleep all the time.This place was starting to get to me. It will not break me. I will not let my body become weak. Did the others in here feel the same and do the same
M.R6The Elf started to walk with me. I had never listened so intently to anyone in my life. His voice was rough and raspy like he smoked heavily and had for many years.“Many years ago. Roughly three thousand to be closer to the point. That is what I should say. Humans and all other beings lived alongside one another. For a long time, we managed to keep peace. That is until a king took over the Humans. He preached that humans were the master race. That they had great numbers and better weapons. That they should not have to breathe the same air as none humans. That we were nothing more than animals that should be used in such a way. Slowly other humans began to start thinking like him. The way he did it was incredible. The way the story goes he rallied an army. An army so big no race could defeat them. They marched and rode across the country attacking any village they came to. No mercy was given. They gave no warning of their attacks. Before any of us knew what
M.R 5Time passed by. How much I don’t know and it was playing havoc with my mind. I wanted out of this place. I needed to get the Gnome to speak. He was always in the back of his cell in the darkest part. I had been trying to get him to talk for what felt like hours. Over and over I called to him always being polite. No matter how frustrated I got I refused to use bad language or raise my voice in anger. The others were getting mad at me but I would not stop. Susan even told me to stop.“Hey Eddie.”“Yeah.”“Shut up.”I have never known anyone who will never answer you if you don’t stop poking at them. Eventually they will give in. They might not give you the response you want but you will get one. At least there were two sets of bars and a hall way between us. So he wouldn’t be able to get to me. If it went the wrong way. Not that he would be able to punch me above my thigh. Gnome was th
Opening my eyes I found I was back in my cell. I didn’t want to call it my cell but it was looking more and more like it was going to be. Tossed on the floor was a small manual. On the front it simply said rules.“Hey you up?”The girl in the next cell called to me. I’ve just opened my eyes and they are talking to me already. How did she know I was awake.“Yeah. How did you know?”“ There is a telepathic unicorn here he knows when your awake if he wants.”“Oh ok. I forgot about him. What’s your name anyway?”“Susan.”“Susan?”Who the fuck has ever heard of an Orc called Susan. Don’t they normally have names like Mursha or zoguz? Weird things like that.“Yes, Susan. My parents thought it might help hide us if we took human names. Most of us have them now. To be honest it is easier to have a human name than a
When I opened my eyes there was no change in the light it was still dull. Not having a window or anything was giving me no idea of time. Nothing looked any different and to my disappointment, I was still in this cell.Voices we’re still chattering on around me but at least the one in my head was quiet. When I heard one of them shout.“The new guys awake.”How the fuck do they know that there is no way they can see me. I’m going to ask they don’t seem to care about asking questions.“How did you guys know I was awake?”It seemed like everyone had something to say all at the same time. Every voice at the same time shouted something. None of them made it to my ears it was too loud like trying to listen to every conversation in a bar at the same time. I never liked being in loud places my ears couldn’t cope with it. Someone shouted for them to be quiet.Then one voice came to me
Humanities crime 2I was tired up and gaged with some kind of strange rope and thrown into the back of a van. It was strange in that every time I moved it tightened up. I couldn’t see my bindings. My arms were behind my back. But every move made them get tighter.The van drove sensibly. No excessive revving of the engine. Smooth left and right turn. Easy breaking no sudden stops. After being in the back of the van for so long I started to get drowsy. It was an effort to stay awake. My mind worked overtime though. Fear and confusion making sleep impossible. It felt like we had been driving for at least six hours but not having a watch or the sun to look at I had no idea. Eventually the va stopped and the driver’s door opened and closed.The back doors didn’t open for minutes. I got to my feet and thought about making my escape. When the doors opened I was going to run at the man hopefully knocking him down. Then run. Run as fast as I could for a
Mythical Rising 1The air was still but cold as I sat in my little rowing boat. Rod propped on the side. A light mist over the lake in the early morning light. Nothing ever bites at this time of day, not even the insects. It’s not the fishing that brings me out but nature. It’s like it talks to me.On days like this, I know that the trees are happy. Flowers will bloom. Bees will collect the nectar and plants will get pollinated. No matter what people do to the world life will go on.Nature has always been a huge part of my sixty-five years of life. My dad used to bring me into forests and leave me. From the age of eight, I was able to hunt kill gut and cook a squirrel. I could tell you what animal made what tracks and how long ago with a glance by the time I was ten. At eleven I was making weapons and shelters. By the time I was fifteen I was able to live for days in the wild with nothing but the clothes on my back to start. Schoo