Ashgate Prison a structure symbolizing solitude, misery, and fear to criminals all over Saxington is also a place many call home. Inside this place, two guards dressed in a black and brown guard uniforms tracked down the stone halfway. Their ring of keys attached to their black pants jingle with each step alerting other prisoners to their presence. Prisoners rustled around in their cells at the sound of those keys and began howling like caged animals at the guards in an attempt to garner the guard's attention in an attempt to relieve their anger. The two guards paid no mind to those prisoners locked in their cell because they were both already tasked with escorting a prisoner to the maximum-security wing used to house death row inmates.
Amongst these two the tall lanky guard was pushing an empty stretcher. While the chubby guard to his side was tossing his keys in the air to catch them as they fell. The lanky man just making simple conversation said to his colleague, "It's a good day isn't it, Taylor".
Taylor the chubby guard to his side unrushed replied, "ya, I suppose it is Randle, then again any day someone doesn't tell me to wipe piss off the walls is a good day".
"You still on about that mate".
"Your only saying that because you didn't have to do it. We practically never clean anything around here and let the prisoner roll around in their shit all year round yet during the rare chance we do I'm tasked with it. I didn't sign up to be a janitor".
"Does this place even have a janitor I ain't ever seen one"? Randle remarked.
Taylor jokingly said, "ya, I just saw him in the break room he's on his lunch break should end in a few years give or take". Taylor looked over at Randle with a glance that showed he was questioning Randle's intelligence and continued to say, "come on man most of the prisoners here get executed and the ones that didn't wish they had ain't nobody cares about them".
"Who said I gave a damn either. The people here all deserve to die I ain't losing any sleep over it. Hell, right now I'm excited we got some big names being sent to The Bone Yard in a few days. It's gonna draw a big crowd I can feel it. You know it too since we got ourselves a famous pirate and a traitorous politician up on the block this time. You know I like to see a pirate hang as much as the next guy, but I have a vested interest in that swine we're about to meet. We've been hauling that spy back and forth to his cell for 6 months now its time to get him fitted with some proper jewelry around his neck".
Taylor said nothing about this Randle's words made Taylor have a strange look in his eye. An expression he hid from Randle's sight. Not long from then, the two guards arrived at a holding cell a few halls away. The cell marked as cell P-59 had the same thick metallic grey door that lined every side of the hallway. The heavy door had a large amount of rust growing on it making the old paint coating it flake and chip off with just a touch.
A small window embedded in the door allowed the guards to see into the cell, but it also acted as the only source of light for those unfortunate enough to be locked in. The shining light was a teasing hope it showed the freedom of a wider world a world that has become a distant memory for most denizens of the prison. As if to eclipse all hope the light gave darkness came the source of which was Taylor's head. Taylor peered through the window with squinted eyes briefly and saw Nathaniel resting on a prison bed.
"There he is right where we left him". Uttered Taylor as he took his ring of keys and unlocked the cell door. As the door inched open an unpleasant tide of stench spilled from the room. The two guards's scrunched their noses the moment they breathed it in. Randle in this moment half joking and half serious called out to Taylor muttering to him the words, "Taylor I think you got some more cleaning up to do".
Taylor reflexively glared at Randle who had a dirty smirk on his face after what he said. Taylor huffed, turned his head back forward and said to Randle, "shut up and get in there we got to lift him up on the stretcher".
"I'm not touching that filthy traitor he's disgusting just look at him".
Taylor turned to where Randle pointed and saw what he ment. The state of Nathaniel's body was nothing new to Taylor but it was still never pleasant to look at. All kinds of cuts both large and small crisscrossed all across Nathaniel's withering body. The scabbed wounds seemed to fester in between swollen boils of oil. Large parts of Nathaniel's muscular structure was exposed. Terrible burn marks left a vivid image of what the flaying process done to him was like. Nathaniel's fingers were swollen like sausages but also were a necrotic black making them more resemble the hands of a bloated corpse. To add to the suffering of a dying man Nathaniel's tendons were long ago severed making him incapable of excessive movement without aid.
The wounds on Nathaniel weren't minor they were more than enough to kill a lesser man and yet Nathaniel still breathed. The sight of such a man in such a state was saddening, but the knowledge Taylor knew about what was going to happen next with Nathaniel was sadder. Pulling himself away from these thoughts Taylor addressed Randle.
"Randle get off your ass and lend a hand this isn't exactly Ideal for me either".
Randle not making any effort to move from his spot stood there and replied back, "sorry about this but that cursed blood filth might infect me if I were to aid you like that. Let's hose him down first before we move him".
"You know that might kill him. The man might smell a little ripe, but now you're just being difficult. What your suggesting isn't a cleaning it's practically a lynching".
"So, what if I am? I heard this traitorous scum hadn't said shit since he got here. He's been corrupted by someone, and since he ain't cooperating it's our patriotic duty to take out this trash".
Taylor had a look of apprehension as he talked to Randle, "Our duty is to drop him off and collect our coin at the end of the day for doing it. Don't bring your twisted views into this it's just going to make my job difficult. Your hatred of him for going against his nation I understand. But do you have to hate him for being cursed blooded as well? Warden Albin might be a hard ass but would you say you hated him too after all he's done for his nation?".
Fervently Randle stated, "We should hate cursed bloods because they are a symbol of weakness, corruption, greed, and tyranny. This everlasting extinction war should be won with our power, knowledge, and bravery. Not by succumbing to the temptation of the sea. Those cursed filthily shits are all decended from The Valeborne. Those monsters in man skin will do anything to satisfy their own greed and lust for power".
"But does it not also show sacrifice, of the potential tens of millions of people who gave all that they had for the betterment of our world and the continuation of our race".
"You think all of them are like that does that damn pirate Captain Flintwood we have chained up underground come off to you as someone who sacrifices for others. You're a fool if you think so. Cursed bloods have a longer history of selfish ass wipes who care for nothing but themselves than actual heroes".
De-escalating the situation Taylor said, "And by your own words there are still heroes amongst them. Maybe not him but they do exist so get a hold of yourself and hold the door open. I'll take care of the rest you daisy".
Extremists Taylor didn't particularly like them because condemning a generation for the sins of another didn't sit right with him. But even though he felt they spouted a lot of bull shit he couldn't help but feel they had somewhat of a point. While pondering this topic Taylor moved towards Nathaniel and began to pick him up from the side. Nathaniel's once well-defined physique was now thin as a twig. His muscles clung to his bones and his stomach was a pit. A light touch made Nathaniel's body subconsciously spasm in fear and pain.
Taylor picked Nathaniel up like this to placed his body on the stretcher they brought just for him. As Taylor lifted Nathaniel up and his scrawny legs dangled from the side. Taylor heard two words whispered into his ear, "Thank you".
They weren't much but those words were worth their weight in gold Taylor knew this to be true.