Parallel Wars

Chapter 4

After the night, I was nearly immune to the day. The gawking faces meant I wasn’t alone, the questions meant I had choices, the pain meant I was alive. That was a very optimistic perspective on the pain front, as really, the pain was the only part I couldn’t really stand. 

Everything was a blur for the next long periods of time. Punches during the day, Marv at night, all that I had left was hope. Lilia wouldn’t betray me, would she? She’ll get me out. Somehow. 

Three more days passed, in which nothing changed. How my body was still functioning, I had no idea. Even more mysterious was how nothing except maybe a few ribs had been broken. Not that I was complaining, but it was suspicious. Usually the breaking of bones was one of their big selling points. Did they just not have the guts to do it to me, or was there some larger plot at play? 

I didn’t even flinch when the guards came in, yet again. It took a lot of effort, but I was fueled by spite. And spite meant not breaking. One got right into my face first thing, spitting out the question, “What do you know of the French’s plans?”

“Just as much as I knew yesterday, and the day before. Kind of hard to gain new info while strapped here.” 

“I don’t appreciate your attitude! How long have you been a double agent?” 

“If you appreciated the attitude I’d get rid of it. I didn’t even know I was a double agent, last I knew I was running from the French at the risk of my life, getting to safety, and then being so politely informed of how traitorous I am. Hate to break it to you, but you’ve got the wrong person!” 

“Then we’re going to try something new. Last chance: Give us something helpful.” 

“It was Mustard, with the candlestick, in the hall.” 

A fist made contact with my gut, and then there was some new contraption pointed at my chest. “Do you know what this is?” 

“Sadly.” 

“Have your answers changed?” 

“Afraid not.” 

There was a click, and my muscles involuntarily tensed, then contracted abruptly. I was no longer in control, pulsating, buzzing filling my ears and every muscle acting on its own. They tightened to the point I was sure I would snap, yanking me around, and just as soon it stopped. 

I fell limp, fog clouding my brain, exhaustion weighing me down. My clothes were smoking, under them, my chest might be as well. I cursed under my breath. This was only the start of their new era; testing everything they had on me. 

“Who are your contacts and when do you see them?” 

“Well I prefer glasses, but I call my left contact Barbra and the right one Jeremy. As of now, I can’t see them or much of anything else.” 

My muscles tensed again, uncontrollably and painfully tense until I was shaking from the tension. It continued, tingling until it almost burned until I was sure that my muscles were about to break and never work again. 

I gasped in air as the electricity stopped, breathing heavily, trembling. All I wanted to do now was curl up in a ball and cry. 

“That’s far from the end of it. Anything you’d like to share with us?” 

Through my ragged breaths, I doubted I could speak. I just shook my head, eyes on my knees. A hand grabbed my hair, yanking my face up to look into his. The taser, or whatever it was, pointed right at my face. 

“Go on then,” I gasped, heart pounding, “Kill me. See if I care. Press the button, watch as my face burns and I spasm. Watch as I writhe until my soul leaves my body. Watch your future as you smother under the truth that you did this to an innocent person.” 

His eyes hardened, then flickered with doubt for a moment. He looked as though he was about to take my advice, then abruptly dropped the taser and walked away. I heard arguing voices yelling down the hall until they disappeared. 

I let my head fall and tears dripped down my face, sobs wracking my body. Why couldn’t they just kill me? 

It was nighttime before anyone came back. And who came was Marvin. Sickness swamped my stomach as he approached, twisted smirk on his face. I didn’t look at him. 

His fingers brushed my face, then down my neck. I flinched. “Oh, now that’s a first. Don’t like that?” He repeated the motion. My insides twisted, threatening to rip out of my stomach. 

His hand closed around my throat, at first gently, then tightening with a vice-like grip. I thrashed, gasping for air, but none came. The pressure on my throat made me retch, though nothing came up, and spots began obscuring my vision. Right as the last of the world was disappearing, the pressure released, and air rushed back into my lungs. Expanding them until they felt like they’d burst. 

As soon as the world was coming back into focus, the hand slammed back into my throat, knocking my head into the back of the chair. Right as everything was turning black again, I thought I heard the door open, but nothing changed. The pressure loosened slightly, and warm breath hit my face, lips pressing into mine. It felt dirty and wrong, none of the numbness I’d hoped would develop at the beginning of this.  

Then it was gone, and voices broke the darkness. Businesslike. Familiar yet unplaceable. “...Orders… Now… I… You go…” 

There was the sound of feet, doors slamming, and then silence. I could feel eyes on me, but didn’t seem to have the energy to open mine. 

“Smith. Wake up.” The sound of her voice sent a rush of hope through me, and I managed to pick my head up. 

“‘Ey, Reese,” I mumbled, mind fogging up. It must be a dream, or I died. But it still felt as though my whole body was throbbing and burning, so who knows. 

Fingers brushed against the skin on my hands, fiddling with the leather. A voice low in my ear, speaking quickly. “We don’t have long, but we’re getting out of here. Come on, move Smith, work on your other hand while I get your feet!” 

Even through the fog, I could register that. The air hitting my wrist for the first time in days. The light feeling of being able to move my arm. I lifted it, staring in awe, then began pulling at the leather of the other arm. 

There was a sigh, and then my feet were loose, and Lilia mumbling under her breath while untying my other hand. She grabbed my wrist, she was so warm and soft, comforting, and pulled me to my feet. 

My legs buckled beneath me, pain shooting through them. My senses momentarily blacked out, and when they came back, I was partway through the door, held up by a hissing and spitting Lilia. “Stand the… You know what… Up!” 

I struggled to refind my feet, letting out a groan as the pain spread like electricity through my body. But I managed to keep myself upright, stumbling after Lilia. I kept my eyes locked onto her, my vision swimming, just focusing on her and making my feet move. 

After about one hallway, the pain was overwhelming. My chest was on fire, and every step elicited an unwilling whine. Lilia looked back at me, forehead creased and shoulders tensed. “We’re almost there. You have to make it. You will make it. That door at the end of the hallway, you just have to get there.” 

I took another few steps towards the door, then my legs collapsed again. Everything blurred out, sharp pangs overwhelming me, and the last thing I remember was two pairs of footsteps.