The comment gave him pause. Why had they been so rough with this prisoner but given him a pass? Not even a scratch. The only physical confrontation was Haverty searching his belongings. And that was certainly nothing in comparison to this guy’s bloody lip and bruises.
“I didn’t fight back.” That’s the reason. You battled back and probably have been since you were first taken. “There’s no point in it. These people are monsters. I don’t stand a chance alone. No point in making it harder on myself.”
“How’s that?” The prisoner laughed through the question. “Got nothing to lose at this point. What’s wrong with you?”
“I’m going to find a way through this,” Xavier’s tone wavered, uncertainty plaguing the belief that his statement was true. The isolation wore on his spirit. He tried to hide it. “This isn’t the end for me.”
“That blood on the cot. A friend of yours?”
Xavier didn’t reply—he understood the point of the statement.
“I figured as much. Guessing this is where they bring people to die. This is the end. Delusional if you think otherwise.”
“Maybe for you,” Xavier said, “but I still have something they want.” A confidence began to build within him. This guy doesn’t know what he’s talking about. He’s clearly expendable being beaten up like that. The S.A. doesn’t need him. I still have what they want. That letter is what kept him alive. Kept him from the same fate as this stranger. “I have something they don’t want to get out. It could shatter the whole game they’ve been playing. They like to make you think they’re here to help, but it’s a joke.”
“Oh, yeah?” the prisoner asked. “Here to help?” Xavier had heard that tone before. The words matched with a pair of rolling eyes. “Been nothing but horrible. Not an ounce of good in them. They don’t care what you got.”
“You haven’t seen the act then. When they come to your group, they play nice, but they don’t mean it. They’re going to take you over by force, but they hide it. They make you think you need them. Then they just walk in.” Xavier took a deep breath. “Is that not what they did to your group?”
“Never seen these people before. Don’t know anything about them.”
“How can that be? Aren’t they all over the place?”
“Not where I’m from.”
“Seriously, who are you? You said it yourself that you have nothing to lose. I’ve told you a lot. A lot more than I probably should have.”
The prisoner descended into a silence that grew from seconds into minutes. What was this guy hiding? He already said he had nothing to lose. Out with it! “Whenever you’re ready.”
“I’m tired.”
“Whatever.” Xavier gave up. It’s been a long day for him. I’ll let him sleep for now, but later, he has some questions to answer. Xavier’s head hit the pillow, and he closed his eyes.
“Something doesn’t feel right about them.”
“What do you think they want, Dad?”
“I’m not really sure yet. It’s hard to know. There’s a difference in what people say and what they mean.”
“What are they saying?”
“I can’t tell you everything, but mostly they’re offering protection for food and supplies. And, they want to station some of their men here to use the school as an outpost.”
“That sounds like a pretty good deal, right?”
“Sounds good, yeah, but you just never know.”
“What do you mean?”
“Have you ever heard of the Trojan War?”
“The Trojan Horse thing?”
“Yeah, do you know the story?”
“Not really.”
“It’s a tale from Greek Mythology. There was a battle between the Greeks and Trojans. They were at a standstill. The Greeks wanted the city of Troy, but the Trojans wouldn’t give up. So the Greeks came up with a way to trick the Trojans into letting them in.
“The Greeks constructed a large wooden horse to give to them as a gift—something to show them they wanted peace. The Trojans accepted the gift, but things aren’t always as they seem. The humongous wooden horse was filled with Greek soldiers who snuck out that night and quickly took control of the city walls. They let the remainder of the army in, ultimately, taking over the city.”
“So they’re the Greeks?”
“Maybe.”
“You don’t trust them, huh?”
“I’m not sure yet. I need more information. We’ve built a great thing here, and people have come to take it before. No one has succeeded. The great thing about defending is that you only have to hold your ground. You don’t have to conquer. I fear that this group is the conquering type. I feel like they want peace, but only on their terms. If you won’t give that to them, then they’ll take the peace.”
“They haven’t attacked us yet. Maybe they just want peace. No fake gifts. Just cooperation.”
“I don’t know, Xavier. I just don’t know.”
Xavier opened his eyes. Dad knew. He just knew. He’s always right. Dad… You have to make it back. We need you. I need you.
He pressed his chest against the edge of the cot and patted along the floor searching for food. Not asleep long enough for a meal. Slowly, he shifted to the foot of his cot—half asleep—the handcuff scraping along the frame as he reached for the bucket.
“Awake? Good.” An eagerness in the prisoner’s voice. The silence may have already begun to wear down his nerves.
The bucket began to fill. “Did you sleep at all?”
“Maybe a little bit. Weren’t kidding about this place. Really lose yourself in the dark here.”
“How long was I out?” Xavier asked, as he finished with the bucket and pushed it from his cot.
“Wouldn’t guess too long after me. Guards woke me up. Two of them came through and went out a door down here. Didn’t come back.”
“Did they say anything? Leave anything?”
“Weren’t down here for us. Whispered back and forth, but couldn’t tell what they were saying. All I could make out was a loud choking noise.” The prisoner imitated the Guard, forcing out a disgusting rasp that caused Xavier to cringe. “Then the other one laughed all loud, and they walked out.”
Xavier rubbed along his jaw. There was nothing to say. The reality of his demise was beginning to take focus. There would be no denying it any longer. The picture was becoming clear—two prisoners awaiting their deaths, talked about by others as if they were already gone. This was the end.
“We’re going to die aren’t we?” Tears formed in the corners of Xavier’s eye. He wiped them with his fingers, but more began to pool. A silent cry.
“Your friend, what’d he think while he was down here? He know?”
“He never saw it coming. Sam was unconscious when he died.”
“Sam…” The prisoner’s voice trailed off as if he were thinking of someone he knew.
“He didn’t even know he was down here,” Xavier said. “Probably never had another thought after he was hit. Killed for no reason.” Xavier ran a hand through his hair, grabbing hold of a bit before letting go. “He was a good guy. He did a lot around here. Him and Grant were unstoppable.”
“Name’s David.” No hesitation in the prisoner’s voice. Xavier almost startled by the statement. It came from nowhere. “Figure since we’re both about to go we may as well know each other, right?”
Xavier couldn’t argue with the well-placed point. “Xavier. I work maintenance here.” He scoffed and corrected himself, “I did maintenance here.”
“Was a scavenger with a group in the Nor—” David coughed. “Was a scavenger.”
“Where?”
“Sorry.” Obviously, he was upset with himself for even coming that close to letting it go. “Can’t say.”
“Who would I tell?”