Chapter XIV

We were split up. What a nightmare…

I gazed upwards as I passed underneath the thick metal arch into the prison area. My eyes looked down and took again notice of the ominous presence of the handcuffs. I couldn’t help but sigh. It felt as if I just crossed a doorway into… something horrible. ‘Oww…’ I felt myself whimper in silence and I couldn’t help but feel even more helpless. I felt powerless, being tossed back and forth; ordered from one place to the other.

Everybody was looking at us. It was as if news had spread faster than wildfire throughout the ship, and we were the last to notice. We were being escorted by a military team dressed in full garment this time, two sentries per person. Heading up front, two of the patrolpersons were checking in at a barred desk. Behind them was Ignis standing still, his eyes darting to and fro. After him, the two sentries assigned to him, and behind them was the only one of the four rogues that didn’t get hurt badly: the one that Ignis had wrestled down to the floor. It was a girl, handcuffed too… I couldn’t see her face; her hair concealed her face as she kept her eyes fixed on the floor. Of course, behind her were the two officers put in charge of her, then myself and last, the two behind me. I think the whole ordeal was to help calm people’s nerves. Something so gruesome… I thought back for a second, remembering the noises, the darkness and the anguish that I felt.

I hated feeling that way. I hated… this. This… sensation of powerlessness. Of feeling so feeble and vulnerable. ‘Everybody is so much stronger than I am, though…’ I admitted to myself, ashamed. I sensed myself being urged forward, following the arrangement into the cells. As we were passing a second archway, I looked up to notice there were security doors retracted… and I guessed ready to be lowered at any time. There wasn’t any getting out of this one for me. Next thing I knew, I was shoved into a cell and a heavy clank sounded as a heavy cap fell shut from the top of the doorframe. Sigh. I turned around, hoping to find a window, or talk to my cellmate.

But I realized I was alone. “Solitary… confinement?” I cried in a terrified whisper. “Wait… no… no… Wait,” I felt myself weep in horror. “I’m… afraid of… enclosed spaces…” A sob escaped me. I couldn’t feel my legs. A couple of sluggish steps brought me to the bunk bed on the side of the cell. As I sat down, I found the bed very welcoming. “Might be the most welcoming part of this ship…” I murmured in defeat as I finally laid back. “This is no adventure… this is a nightmare,” I recalled Ignis’ words and how I had fallen prey to such a reckless and stupid lie.

Liars. All of them.

I turned around and clenched my fists over the folds of the caseless pillow and gave out, bawling my eyes out to sleep.