– Aeryn –
57.
The days were passing along like water within a river. Sometimes fast; rapids along the rocks. Sometimes slow; trickling along the rocks.
Time had completed its total conversion of my mind; I only operated on the most basic motor functions.
There was… nothing.
My mind had turned completely blank.. dull.
Food? Vital need. Taken. Consumed.
Sleep? Attempted. Failed. Reattempted.
Work? Unneeded. Forced. Completed.
***
30.
Another 17 days passed.
Elvia had fallen sick.
Was she still sick?
It was hard to tell if that heart of hers was still beating at times.
She couldn't seem to wake up or sleep and she remained limp in her bed for hours even when awake. She hadn't eaten much these last few weeks and it showed itself slowly but surely through her emaciated body.
***
7.
Another 23 days passed.
Elvia had been taken away by the silent sentinels we had for guards.
I had tried to stop them.. I think...
I don't think I ever really thought about anything. Maybe because there was nothing left to do other than sit idly waiting for time to end me as well.
***
0.
I do remember being... angry. It didn't make sense! Why did Elvia need help more than myself?!
I know she's sick... but the guards.. they just made no fucking sense! The whole bloody thing makes absolutely zero sense...
I slammed my head down on the side of the bed.
Anger surged through my body like venom. Increasing in strength the more I moved.
I punched the wall, the iron bars.
I punched the bowl of food, I punched my leg. Everything hurt. Every single part of my body was hurting with pain from too much time under lock-up. My body screamed out, yelling 'no' at me, but my hand continued to slam itself on things again and again. And again. Until eventually it was no different from just bashing my own flesh, which too joined the ranks of victims screaming their way into oblivion. It was only for a moment, a fleeting moment, but it felt as if a part of me had been suddenly dragged out and taken away. I felt faint.
I laid back down on the 'bed' and tried to relax, but anger still bubbled inside my throat making it difficult for my breath to flow freely without choking off. So instead of gasping for air I just laid down flat, with my back on the bed, looking up towards the ceiling. Feeling tears form in my eyes as they fell silently one by one onto the stone floor.
What was I even angry about?
It just didn't make sense...
...
I began to relax, shifting into a more comfortable position. Tonight felt... odd. Had I worn myself out so much that my body would forcefully sleep? Had I lost so much blood that I physically couldn't be awake?
Or perhaps I'm simply tired enough to feel drowsy already? A combination of all three maybe? No idea where I got those ideas though, I doubt I could sleep after all that... But here I am drifting off, unable to stay alert any longer. Perhaps this'll finally be it then.
So tired... That heavy weight on my chest pulled me into darkness.
***
The cell door swung open loudly followed shortly by two cloaked men who walked in, dragging an unconscious man between them. They slowly laid him down beside me on his back...were they cautious or being kind? I couldn't tell, my mind felt like a shoe lost within a deep bog.
They bowed, and then walked out, locking the door behind them. Gracefully leaving as soon as they had arrived.
On the other hand, the boy had fallen onto the floor and then began rolling over painfully onto his stomach until he could get himself upright, swaying before leaning against the wall. He looked incredibly young; probably not older than seventeen or eighteen years old despite appearing very pale with that white skin that seemed almost translucent. Was that due to the cell lighting?
He looked familiar, very familiar.
"Sleep, Aeryn. You've earned it."
Those words of his were like a warm soup on a starved stomach. My body felt the same heaviness as last night, yet it felt more... complete?
I once again laid down on that stone block they called a bed.
Yet, this time, no prayer was needed, sleep came as fast as a well-bred stallion.
And this time, it was sleep. Not just the body resting, but also the brain.