Fellow Prisoners

“Finally awake, eh? ‘Bout bloody time too, was starting to get worried.”

Looking up towards the voice, you had to squint in the dull light to make out the figure before you. Blue eyes stared at you behind slightly cracked glasses as cropped, brown hair framed the face. The grey sweater had tears in it along with the jeans while the loafers were scoffed up.

You had to blink a few times before recognition dawned. “B-Ben? Is that you?”

The glasses wearing man gave a small, relieved smile. “Yeah. A little knackered but nothing too bad.”

You tried getting up, only to drop to your side. It felt like your body weighed more than it should. Struggling, you tried yet again to get up.

“Don’t push yourself, Jack. Took me a bloody minute to remember how to use my legs.” Ben cautioned, watching as you managed to get to your knees. Breathing heavily, you happen to glance down and look at your hands.

What the- Blinking in shock, you bring them up to see a pair of manacles clamped onto your wrists. A chain connected the two, thereby bounding the two from moving too far apart.

“Lovely piece of jewelry, isn’t it?” Looking up, you see Ben bring his arms and a similar pair of manacles on him. “I even got a matching pair.”

Growing confused and scared, your eyes quickly dart around the area you were in. A single stone torch built into the wall was the only source of light in the cold, lifeless room. Iron bars separated the cell from a larger room that looked completely.

Your heavy breaths turned to short, quick ones. The reality of where you were causing you to panic. Looking back to your friend, you see a sad and sympathetic look across their face.

“Ben, what’s going on? Where are we?!”

“Well-”

CLANG!

“LET ME OUT OF HERE, YOU SICK FUCKS!!!”

You jolted at the sudden shout, head darting trying to find its source. Ben, on his part, sighed through his nose while rolling his eyes. Stepping out of the way, you got a clear look at the cause of the noise.

Roaring in anger, a dark, heavy-set man charged, and shoulder tackled the bars with his full weight behind. The cage barely shook at the attempt as the man stumbled back. Snarling, he threw his arms at the bars, a familiar set of bands hitting them and familiar Clanging noise ringing out.

“You bastards think you can get away with pulling this shit!” He screamed, still banging on the bars. Clang! Clang! Clang! “I swear when I get my hands on you fucks, I’m gonna make you regret putting me in fucking chains!”

Finally getting to your feet, you watch the scene play out in front of you. The voice sounded familiar, but you couldn’t place where. Getting a better look, you make the connection when you see the orange varsity jacket the man was wearing, especially the number stitched into the shoulder. “Is that…Deacon?”

“Yup, Mr. ‘College star’ himself. His shouting was what woke me up in the first place. Been going back and forth between spitting curses to tackling the cell. Getting annoying now actually.” Ben explained.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

“Bugger me, I can’t take this.” Reaching a point, he finally addressed the issue. “Hey! You mind banging a little softer, I still have hearing in one ear!”

Pausing in his struggle to pull out one of the bars, Deacon snapped his head to look at your friend. “Did I interrupt something? A thousand pardons, your ‘majesty’.” He responded in a fake apologetic tone. “I didn’t mean to make a scene; I was a little preoccupied with trying to get the FUCK OUT OF THIS CELL!!!”

“That’s solid iron you’re trying to mess with, you daft idiot! You’d have more luck pulling teeth than breaking that.”

“Well unless you got a better idea, don’t tell me to calm down!” The varsity player barked back. Eyes drifting, they narrowed when they landed on you. “Finally decided to wake up, huh?”

“Y-yeah?” You awkwardly reply.

“He finally came out of…whatever it was that we were in.”

“Fantastic.” Deacon sarcastically said. “How’s about you make yourself useful and get the fucking mute to stop moping and start helping!”

He then went back to trying to pull out one of the iron bars. Ben shook his head at the sight while you just stood there. Where were all of you? How did you get here? And why were you in chains? All these questions and more bounced around in your head but what Deacon said came back to you.

“Wait, there’s someone else?” You asked your friend.

Looking at you, Ben nodded and pointed. Following his finger, you see a figure sitting down in the farthest corner. You couldn’t tell anything from where you stood, but even in the dim light, they wore a dark hoodie with the hood up, covering their entire head. You saw it move up for a moment, acknowledging you, maybe, before moving back down and staring at the ground.

“Who’s that?” You questioned.

“No idea. Hasn’t made so much as a peep, won’t talk to either of us. They look familiar to you?”

You shake your head. You couldn’t tell who that was, especially with their face hidden. Glancing around the room once more, you look down at your shackled wrists before looking up.

“Ben, what the hell is going on?!” You asked, voice hitching up at the end.