-Do you think he's coming back?
-He better!
-Girls, girls... He's obviously coming back!-Jenny said in an attempt to calm the crowd.
-But what if he doesn't?
Jenny knocked on the wall that separated us and asked me to help her out.
Still sleepy, I lied back against the wall and soothed her worries.
-Let them complain if they want…-I said before yawning-It's been a long since some of these women had a normal day…
-Is this normal for you?
We contemplated how people hit the walls and the bars of their cells in protest. Some of them yelled while some others cried in desperation due to how long Jacob was gone.
-Well, it's more normal than what they did to us-I scoffed.
I wasn't able to watch Jenny, but I know that she shivered just remembering what our captors did to us.
She and I sat in complete silence as the ruckus that the people were doing gradually increased.
After a few minutes, Jenny talked to me again, this time making a dumb question.
-You think he's coming back?
I laid on the cold floor of my cell and stared at the ceiling.
-Of course he's coming back-I answered in hopes of calming her down.
-How can you be so sure?
-Easy: He wants something from me.
Even though the wall was between us, I knew what Jenny was doing: Giving me an atrocious side eye. To be honest, I can't blame her, what I said does sound bad.
-I guess even though he's young, he's still a man…-she said in a melancholic sound.
It was partially my fault for not clarifying what I was talking about, but I wanted to hit her for badmouthing the poor kid.
-It's not that, dumbass!-I yelled as I raised my arms up in the air-He definitely wants something else! Think about it! He was really invested in my story when I mentioned Master Young!
-I mean… you're right but… he was also really invested when you mentioned the hot guy…
In that moment, all of the inmates remained completely silent. Then, out of nowhere, one of them shouted out.
-We were all invested in him!
-Yeah! He sounds so… scrumptious…-one of them said in a hungry tone.
-Meh, he wasn't my type-another person said.
-How can he not be your type?! He sounds so fucking perfect!-Jenny yelled from her cell.
-Nobody is perfect!
-He is!-Jenny replied hysterically.
I laughed out loud at their discussion about the man I encountered. Some said that he was the definition of a god (I'm not calling him a greek god because all of them were abusers and kidnappers), some of them claimed that he was just average and some claimed that he wasn't perfect for the mere fact that he was a man (Nobody asked, but this group was divided into lesbians and men haters. While I get the later ones, I don't understand the lesbians. Sure, there are some really beautiful and hot women out there, but how can you not like men?! Oh, I could never…).
-What's so funny?-a woman with a raspy voice screamed.
-Nothing…-I answered as I wiped off a tear from my face- Anyways… Ladies, we have to talk about something…
When she heard my words, my "neighbour" raised her hand out of her cell and asked "what do we have to talk about?".
-Great question, Jenny!-I shouted out with a proud smile on my face-Ladies! Instead of talking about men, we should discuss what to do next!
Everyone remained silent after listening to me. The only things that could be heard were some murmurs between some inmates, talking about what I just said.
-And what are we supposed to do?!-the woman with the raspy voice asked again.
-That's what we have to discuss now!-I screamed at her.
-How about you decide that on the move?!-A male voice yelled from far away.
CLINK
CLINK
CLINK
A metallic sound followed every step of the person as he approached. All of our heads turned in the direction of the noises, expectant to see who was talking.
With the faint rays of sunlight that leaked inside, we distinguished a silhouette dragging something on the floor. I focused all of my vision in the figure, and once I saw a peculiar shine in the thing that he was carrying, I figured out who was talking before.
-Jacob! Is that you?!-I yelled.
The kid peeked at the entrance of our block of cells and while dragging something with his left hand, he waved at me and all the other prisoners with his right hand.
-Sorry about… Hmmpph… being late…-he panted as he dragged the thing with effort-I got lost while looking for this…
Using both of his hands and with all his might, he put up what he was holding, showing it and its shine to all of us.
-Where did you get that?!-I shouted as I saw him holding my sledgehammer.
-I think someone mentioned something about guards storing everything that they took from you… So I just inspected every single place while looking for it!
-Wouldn't it had been easier to just take the damn keys off of the guard and open these damn gates?!-the woman with the raspy voice asked.
Jacob stuttered as he walked up the stairs. Before getting to Jenny's cell, he scratched the back of his neck and laughed awkwardly.
-Oh yeah… About that…-he said while faking a smile-I kinda made someone swallow it while interrogating him…
Everyone went into complete silence. I expected insults towards him at first, but after a while, one of the girls said something that surprised me.
-You know what?! That's totally reasonable…-she scoffed.
In a matter of seconds, the silence completely disappeared as they laughed and backed him up.
-Thank you, thank you…-Jacob laughed awkwardly as he stood in front of the wall of Jenny's cell.
He moved his hips and raised the sledgehammer into the air, focusing all of his strength and attention on the tool in his hands.
-I'd move back a bit if I were you-I advised Jenny as Jacob hit her wall, completely shattering it.
My neighbour jumped up excitedly and rushed off to hug the kid. She then kissed him on the cheek as she thanked him.
-Girl… You're embarrassing me in front of the girls…-Jacob told her while blushing and looking away.
-Aww come onnn…-she said as she kissed his face-This is just a way of saying thank you! Plus, the last thing anyone here wants is a man.
Everyone (including me) laughed at her comment. Some insulted Jacob, telling him to quit playing around and come to their rescue, while others talked about how adorable he was.
COUGH COUGH
I reminded them of my existence, telling them to stop whatever the hell they were doing and ordering the kid to rush and save me.
He nodded at my order and prepared himself for the act. He then swayed his hips from left to right a couple of times and with all of his strength, he made a hole in the wall that separated me and Jenny.
Me and my neighbour rushed to hug each other, and I had to soothe her as she started to cry tears of pure joy due to her first time being with me face to face.
Meanwhile, Jacob, panting, dropped my hammer at my feet and supported himself on the bars of my cell.
-Just like… huff… you said… I'm not made for strength…
He dropped himself at our side and maintained himself perfectly still for a few seconds. Just as me and my friend tried to check if he was alright, he leapt up and while holding my sledgehammer, he placed it in my hands.
-Please take care of it. If I ever find out that this was important to my father then I'm coming back to you to pick it up-he told me as he stepped out of Jenny's cell-Oh and, sorry in advance… I have someone to save and I just can't waste any more time here.
He walked away peacefully as he finished talking, and while yelling at me and the girls to wish him luck, he disappeared in the hall of the prison.
I thought of chasing him, but I had more important things to do first.
With the hammer in my hand, I started to break apart all of the walls in the girls' cells until eventually, we were all out. As each one of them got out, they started to run outside.
It was not until the last person was out that I checked where they all ran off, and I laughed to myself when I saw it: the yard.
Every single one of them (even the shy and scaredy ones) all started to hit, kick and spit on the corpses in front of us. I thought of joining, but after thinking about it for a while, I instead ran to the entrance of the prison, hoping to see Jacob.
-What took you so long?-the kid asked me as the sunrays of the outside slapped me in the face.
He was waiting inside of a shopping cart with the name "Nicky" written on a carton on its side.
-What took me so long? I thought you were gone already-I laughed as I pulled his ear.
-I almost did, but then I realized that I still had some shit to ask you.
-And…-I made a gesture with my mouth and my hand, telling him to elaborate.
-And in order to do that I need to stay with you.
-So you're saying you're gonna stay here?
-Nope.-he shook his head as he got out of "Nicky"-The last thing they want is a man around.
-Aww, but you'd look so cute in a skirt! You could be one of the girls!-I mocked him while messing up his hair.
He frowned at me and then sighed, answering with a proud tone.
-First of all, I don't need to be one of the girls to look good in a skirt. And second of all, I was actually gonna ask you to come with me.
I refused his proposition, telling him that even if they were strong, the girls still needed me.
At that moment, Jenny appeared and hugged me from my back.
-Aww, come on Layla! Listen to the poor kid!-she said as she pointed at Jacob's fake pout-If you're that worried about us then you can leave me in charge! I used to do BJJ before, you know?
-Big James Jalapeño?-I asked, trying to make out what those letters meant.
-It actually stands for "brazilian jiu-jitsu"-Jacob murmured as he took the handle of "Nicky".
The kid began to push the cart back and forth until Jenny talked to my ear.
-Come on, go with him.-she whispered before giving me a big hug-I know how much you love adventures…
I sighed and shook my head.
Then, I took a step back and after taking impulse, I jumped inside of Jacob's shopping cart.
-Alright kid, let's go.-I told him with a smile on my face as I also waved at Jenny-But you'll have to push me if you want me to go with you.
He smirked as he shook his head and started to push the cart.
-Okay, deal.-Jacob told me as the cart started to move away from the prison. Then, as soon as Jenny couldn't be seen from the entrance, he spoke again-I hope you're ready, because our next destination is wherever the hell they're holding the kid…