Chapter 12
Flyer’s point of view
After Kevin’s emotional heart-to-heart
with me, he began to shut himself off from the rest of us. Depression was ugly,
especially in companions. He talked less and less, brooded a lot with his
thoughts, and began to ignore the Dragon Faction resistance, along with hopes
of escape. Once again, he moodily refused to come to a meeting for yet another
escape plan. I attended though. I wanted to keep Kevin posted in case he
changed his mind.
“Th’ plan this time is ter be causin’
a cave-in on purpose, yer ken?” Rembrandt declared.
Skyir took over: “We predict that when
the cave-in happens, it will distract some of the guards for a few vital
minutes. They always seem to come running whenever we try and dig everyone out.
We’ll act as if some of us are buried and try and dig them out while another
group slips past the guards.”
“Dis means,” Grapper added, “dat some
of yers will get beatun up, but if it keeps workin’ you’ll all get your turn at
escapin’.”
A few questions were asked, and then
Grapper gave out instructions to all of us. The meeting was adjourned and I
headed back to find Kevin.
Kevin’s point of view
As I slept, regaining essential
energy, that hazy voice came back. Like before, I couldn’t recognise the voice.
It was just like a spirit breathing words on the wind.
“You’re there again, aren’t you?”
Speaking in my mind, in my subconscious,
I replied simply: “Yes.”
“I can feel it…. Where are you? I
can’t see you.”
The voice was much clearer than
before, resonating as if we were both standing in a large, spacious hall, but
still not recognisable. Yet, judging from the reply, that other soul was just
as confused as I was. Anyway, who cared? I felt depressed and desired to be
alone, savouring the silence of sleep. “And I want it to stay silent,” I
resolved harshly to myself.
“I don’t even know where I am. I can’t
see you either, and I don’t want to hear you, quite frankly! Now go away!” I
ordered.
“But… how are you talking to me?”
“How the hell should I know? Just be
quiet; I can’t sleep with you chatting away in my head!”
“At least tell me who you are!”
“Forget it!” I snapped. “And shut
up!!”
“Wait….. this is too confusing. Are
you here in this room or not?”
My anger blazed. “STOP HOUNDING ME! Do
you want me to force you away?”
That last question, I remember, was
just a hollow threat. I had no idea if I could stop this voice in my head from
speaking to me, whoever it was. Or whatever it was. Yet, at the time, I
believed I could put a stop to it. I discovered later this had a lot to do with
my abilities……..
I used all of my will power to
manifest myself in the presence of this stranger. The figure looked human, but
was only a shadow, a wraith in my vision, shrouded by blue, shimmering mist.
Growling, I began a slow march towards
this figure, intent on frightening them or striking out at them if necessary.
They backed off a little but as I got closer, they froze, apparently in terror.
I heard the figure gasp, the voice
becoming ever more clear. It was male, human, but who? It didn’t concern me
right now though.
I was within a metre now, as I raised
my hands as if they were Great Gecko claws and thrust out to knock the person
backwards.
In that same moment, the figure spoke
in awe and terror:
“Oh my God! Ke-”
Too late. I tried to stop myself but
my mind didn’t react fast enough to retract my arm.
I pulled back as the shadow-cloaked
figure was pushed to the floor, but stopped short of their trajectory by
hitting some obstacle in the way. Before I could react again, the whole thing
had faded, and I jerked awake, the link between us seemingly severed.
Everything was as it should have been.
Slaves not working were sleeping, eating, and talking as usual. My head reeled,
as if I was weak from hunger. Yet, I knew it must have been that I had used up
a lot of energy to manifest myself before that person. I needed more sleep then.
I had discovered that I didn’t have to meditate to gain energy. Sleeping was
just as effective.
That voice….. the prospect no longer
angered me: it scared me. Mere moments before I hit that guy, he spoke with a
intonation packed with …… recognition. And the last words I heard:
“Oh my God! Ke-”
Were they about to exclaim my name?
Was that person someone I knew when I was alive? Wait, correction: when I was a
living human.
It was confusing being dead but alive
at the same time.
Anyway, I hoped time would reveal
whoever that was, and how they spoke to me.
Flyer’s point of view
I had found Kevin, looking very
confused and tired, but trying to convince him to help out with this plan was
harder than I thought.
“Kevin, the leaders are pretty sure
this one will work.” I stated.
“Then let them try it!” he snapped.
“We need as much help as we can,
Kevin. The more we have helping both groups, the better chance we all have.”
“No!”
I paused. “Don’t you want to go home
to your friends? Your wife?”
He scowled, “Yes! Wouldn’t you?”
“Of course, but,” I hesitated, feeling
defeated already, “We could really use your strength, Kevin.”
I heard him sigh. I didn’t know what
he was thinking. I thought my grief for my lost family was horrible, but to
know his family and friends were still out there, waiting for him or believing
him dead, must have been killing him. I knew I’d never see my parents again,
but he knew that he still could somehow, and that possibility made him suffer
more. They were out of his reach, and there was little he could do now.
“I’ll think about it, Flyer.”
I let a small grin creep over my
snout.
“I’ll keep you posted. Tell me if you
decide.”
“Will do, Lil’ Guy.”
***