It takes me a moment to realize she is speaking.
“—all weapons of any kind,” she says, her voice blander than I’ve ever heard it, “—Tomorrow we will be doing a walkthrough to ensure compliance.”
My brow furrows as her words register. She’s asking the inmates to give up their weapons? Dick stands behind her not moving until she turns and begins to walk past him. When he shoots out and grabs her arm, saying something to her that makes her shoulders visibly tense, I feel the full fury of demons and fire come roaring back.
I’m a fucking idiot.
* * *
“Where are we with the sewer?” I ask without preamble as I step into the meeting area. Ethan, Emilio and a number of others are present, some looking more shocked than others at my entrance. Ethan gives me a subtle nod in greeting as though he was just waiting for me.
“Cleared, waiting for you to lead us out,” Ethan says, and I see the hint of a smile twitch on the corner of his mouth.
“Then what are we waiting for?”
Thirty Six
Ana
When I get back to my cell, I’m not given my clothes back and have no choice but to sit around in the ridiculous outfit I was all but forced into earlier. I haven’t seen Sammi since she left with Nick and guilt fills me at the thought that she likely got raped and killed for nothing. The logical part of me says she knew what she was doing, knew the risks, but all I can really do is try to push it all from my mind.
I haven’t gotten even close to managing to get a weapon, and my one attempt yesterday after the shower not only gave my intent away, but also earned me a nice beating. I gingerly stick my tongue out to touch my split lip and wrinkle my nose when the taste of blood is immediate. I haven’t been near a mirror so have no clue what my face looks like, but of course Dick and his merry band of assholes decided focusing on my torso was a better way to go. I’ve had way worse injuries so again; I just try to ignore it. It occurs to me how many things I am forcing myself to ignore right now.
What I can’t ignore is how pained my heart feels.
This was a stupid idea, agreeing to try to help the guards. I’m never going to get a weapon or get away from here, and I’m going to end up sold anyways. There’s no way the inmates are going to give up all their weapons and once Dick realizes I don’t have the power he thought I did, I’m screwed.
I didn’t even see Ax there today, but my eyes scanned the crowd for him the entire time. As a matter-of-fact, I noticed a lot of missing faces. I wonder if they are still working in the sewers below, but really, wondering does me nothing. If there was ever a chance Ax might escape and come for me, it’s gone now.
Sammi’s gone.
Ax won’t come for me.
I suppose I should be used to this kind of thing, after all how many years did I spend alone? I’ve known it all along, I’m the only one I can count on. And I can’t even count on myself anymore.
The thought is sobering.
Despite my desire to remain strong, I feel the heavy weight of darkness, of regret, cover me like a blanket and for the second time in as many days, I let myself cry.
I don’t know when or how I fall asleep, but I jolt awake at the sound of the cell door opening. I’m so not used to wearing skirts and when I try to stand I get tangled in the excess fabric and sprawl back down onto my face with a groan.
“It’s just me,” a feminine voice says as I hear the door shut. Gentle hands help me up and I look into Sammi’s face. I feel my eyebrows pull together as I quickly scan her face and body for any obvious signs of injury and she actually smiles, seeming to know what I’m doing.
How can she smile? I am pretty sure I know what’s happened to her since she left. I remember how I was after one night…I was a wreck. It’s saddening to think Sammi’s used to it, but when I look into her eyes, I see the weight of it.
Apparently, I’m not the only good actress around here.
“Are you okay?” I ask, still a bit surprised I actually care, but what can I say, when you are imprisoned with people it tends to bring you closer. The smallest pang in my chest makes me think of the others I was imprisoned with, but I push the thought aside like so many others. The last twenty-four hours have shown me there is nothing I can do for them, at least not now. But maybe, just maybe, I can help myself and Sammi.
“I’ll be fine,” she says, and I look at her, trying to figure out where the strange sort of buzzing energy she has right now is coming from. Before I can ask, she shifts a bit closer to me, her voice dropping to a whisper. “I got something for you,” she says, the happiness very evident in her tone as she reaches into the folds of her own long skirt and pulls out a small blade.
My jaw drops as I look down at the weapon. It’s not much, but it’s sharp and enough to help me pick the lock. From there, if I’m careful, I could subtly take out a few guards, get a better weapon and maybe….
“And this,” she says, pulling her other hand out to reveal a small key. I look at her slightly in awe.
“How—”
The toothy and mischievous grin interrupts my questions.