M.R 7

Time 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 things. Was Susan a fraction of her original self? If we have half a chance of escape we all need to be as fit as possible. I decided to call out to Susan.

“Hay Sue. You awake?”

“Yeah, I’m awake. What’s up?”

“Since you have been here how much have you changed fiscally?”

Susan let out a deep cackle. It rolled on into a thundering laugh. I waited silently embarrassed. Across from me I saw the gnome come to his bars. I waved a hand at me.

“She doesn’t know why not ask someone who does?”

“I know I have lost a bit of weight. Nothing to bad and I sleep a bit more than I used to.”

The gnome let out a loud HA sound before speaking.

“Ha see what I mean she has no idea. When she first came here she was nearly double the size she is now. It’s the slop we get to eat. There is like they say just enough vitamins and minerals in it to keep us alive and some sustenance. Just a little more than we need. You didn’t have a lot to lose when you came so your not going to be as drastic.”

“Ok thanks. What is you name?”

“Nigel.”

That was it Susan was off again. Scream laughing. I could hear her slapping her hand on the floor like she was bent double and on her knees.

“Nigel the gnome. I know they don’t start the same way but it sounds like your parents were taking the piss.”

“I come from a long line of Nigel's. My father my fathers father and so on back as far as our family goes. If I ever have a son he will be a Nigel.”

The gnome was obviously outraged by Susan's reaction. She calmed down almost instantly. It was really hard to have a conversation with someone when you can’t see them. It is now that I see how important body language is. Susan let out a soft sigh and started with her apology.

“I'm sorry Nigel. You saw how I got with Eddie the elf here. Don’t ever try and tell me a Limerick. I can’t handle it.”

Nigel decided to test Susan out.

“There was a boy from Dubai.”

“Oh God stop.”

Susan squealed. But Nigel continued.

“Who was accidentally baked in a pie.”

“Eddie make him stop. I can’t breathe.”

It sounded like Susan was slapping her hands on the ground. Now starting to choke on her laugh. She night die laughing if I don’t step in.

“Nigel. Enough ok I think you might kill her if you don’t stop.”

The little fella held up one hand in a way that said he was done. While I had both if there attention I saw this as a good time to ask about the man at the end.

“Do either if you too know who the loud fella is at the end of the hall? You know the one who lets us know that the coast is clear.”

Nigel was the first to speak.

“That’s Bob. He’s a dwarf.”

I couldn’t help myself with my comment.

“What no alliteration this time?”

“Do you think Susan could handle it if we all were like that?”

“Hay I’m not that bad.”

“Fair enough. What do you know about him? Was he some kind of leader? With him being so loud.”

“Bob? A leader. Haha fuck no he's a bit deaf. Because he is closest to the exit he shouts loud to let us know they have gone.”

Just my luck not a commander of some ancient army. Just a deaf dwarf. I hope to God that I don’t start finding everything as funny as everyone else around here seems to. Maybe they have been here too long and their minds are now much. If that’s the case then I don’t stand a chance of escape.

After getting a slight glimpse into my future I set my mind to escape. I will not be a giggling buffoon. I needed a friend in a better position than in a cell.

Mealtime came. The bland tasteless slop three times a day. This didn’t help with knowing ilife-changing noon or night. It looked like today was my lucky day. Mr slash Mrs nice.

“Edward. Step to the back and face the wall with your hands behind your back please.”

This is one of those golden life-changing opportunities that you hear about. If I don’t take it now then I might never get the chance again.

“Thank you for showing me some humanity.”

If I can get her to feel sympathy then she slash he might be coursed into helping us break out.

“Shut up Edward.”

The guard gave me a forceful shove in the back. With my hands tied, I fell face-first into the wall. The guard leaned in and whispered in my ear.

“Don't mistake manners for kindness. I will still kill you if you step out of line.”

I wanted to reply with something witty. Well, it didn’t even have to be witty. The wind was knocked out of my sales and I had nothing to say. It looked like escape just got harder than I wanted it to

The guard took my head in one hand and cracked my skull on the wall. I didn’t pass out but the room was spinning. By the time I was on my knees my cell had been vacated and my meal left on the floor. I just kneeled on the floor for a moment waiting for the ringing in my ears to stop and the world to still.

Slowly everything returned to normal. Picking up my slop I noticed it looked a bit off. There was something poking up slightly. It looked to be plastic of some sort.

With my spoon I investigated more closely. Pushing it around and then lifting it a little. It was a small clear plastic bag with a piece of paper inside.

Eagerly I plucked the bag out of the slop. Opening it trying to keep my fingers as clean as possible I pulled out a small note folded twice.

“Sorry about your head. Need to make this look good. Wait to for your next message. Don’t speak to me. Eat the note.”

My heart missed a beat and I don’t think I breathed in for a minute. We now had an insider. Escape is not as much of a pipe dream as it was ten minutes ago. I won’t tell the others yet. I can’t be sure yet that this is all above board. Patients is a virtue.