And Then... They Fell

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

Asher

I open my eyes and suddenly feel sick. My mouth was dry, and my voice was cracked from the screaming. I am overwhelmed by the sound everyone is making me want to cover my ears but knowing it won't block them out.

'You shouldn't have come back'

I can't get the memory of my father saying it out of my mind. I thought he would be proud of how fast I went.

I am pulled from my thoughts at the sound of a voice in the cell next to mine, "Back again kid."

I peer into the darkness next to me, not that it helps; I know that voice. I finally block out the noise of everyone around me when I realize who it is.

"Tommy!" I rush to the bars, excitedly.

"What're you doin' 'ere, you ain't s'pose 'a be back."

I let out a laugh- he always talked funny.

"Dad sent me out for the pills but I wasn't fast enough." The excitement of seeing Tommy has worn off as I remember what happened and know what will.

"Ain't 'ight. They 'ver let me outta 'ere, and I will make sure your pa's taken care of. You ain't be sent 'ere again."

He always gets really angry at my dad for sending me down here but it's not his fault; if I ran faster and didn't waste time coming back I wouldn't be here.

'You shouldn't have come back'

"When are you getting out Tommy? You told me you were getting out of here last time." I say confused. He has been down here keeping me company since I was first sent down.

"They changed 'eir minds. Ain't want me on 'em streets yet."

"If I keep being bad dad will keep sending me down here and then I will be down here forever like you. Do you think he would do that?"

"Kid, I's down 'ere 'cause I ain't a good person. You's down 'ere 'cause your pa's ain't a good person. You ain't s'posed a be down 'ere--"

Tommy's still talking when we hear the guards open the loud metal to the dungeon but as soon as it opens he silences like everyone else down here. I am suddenly terrified and miss the overbearing noise that meant I was safe. I start crying immediately, breathing hard but trying to stay as silent as possible.

"-looks like my own kid-" I try to listen to the guards as they walk down the long hallway talking in hushed voices, hoping they don't stop at my cell.

"I don't like it either. You know we have to-"

I press my palms so my ears harshly not wanting to hear anymore, because that means they will say they are coming to my cell. I cry harder letting a few small sobs out against my control, trying to stay silent to hold on to the last hope that it won't be me.

"What you boys 'ink your doin'?" Tommy speaks up suddenly, knowing what's coming as well.

"I wish it was you too- or anyone else down here for that matter- Tommy." One of the guards said back in a harsh tone, but I could hear the truth behind his words.

"You don't have to wish! I's 'ight 'ere! 'Ave at me!" He finishes by chucking his metal food plate at him.

"I wish I could." The guard dodged the plate but doesn't speak angrily like he wants to hurt Tommy, just like he doesn't want to hurt me.

"The kids back?"

"He sent 'im down 'ere again?"

"Don't touch 'im!"

"It ain't 'ight!"

"Leave the kid alone!"

It's no longer quite at all, and everyone that was trying to be cautious and not be picked no longer cares as they follow Tommy's lead throwing their metal pan at the guards.

The guards don't stop. They can't stop. They put the key in the lock to my cell. I back into the corner, shaking in fear of what's about to happen.

"Time to go Asher." I can't see his face, but I don't need to; I know it is approaching me. They grab my arms and drag me out of the cell. I start screaming and trembling in fear, using everything I have to try and fight them off- but knowing it won't work. The guard holding one of my arms uses his other to silence my screams as we vacate the cell.

Once they have me, the dungeon goes silent again, the only noise is the guards' footsteps, my body being drug out, my heavy breathing, and my occasional sobs and creams around the guard's hand.

I always hate this part. The hallway is so long, and the suspense builds and builds until you can hardly take it but there isn't anything you can do about it. Eventually, we reach the end and walk through the door- the door next to the door that leads to freedom.

The unique thing about the dungeon is that they change their method of punishment weekly so the first prisoner to be tortured doesn't know what's coming for them. Since I started getting sent down here they used knives once, another time was rats, twice was fire, they just stopped feeding us for a week once, and the last time I was here was water.

They lead me to the post in the middle of the room and chain me to it and I looked around and saw a man with a weird looking, long, thick ribbon. This week is the whip.

After I'm chained up I finally look up, meeting my father's gaze. He must have had his tea brought down for him again like this is a form of entertainment for him. I know better than to plead to him for help. That is not why he's here.

My dad takes one long sip before he speaks, "I had thought you learned your lesson by now."

The guard swings his whip across my back. My back arches in pain and I cry out. I can't handle this but know I don't have a choice as he speaks again signaling that I am not done.

"I don't want this for you Asher."

The guard swings his whip across my back. It hurt more than the first which I thought was impossible. I cry out again, my throat dry. My father sips his tea again.

"You have to learn, son." He shakes his head like this was the only way he could teach me.

The guard swings his whip. My father watches and sips his tea, face devoid of expression.

"You didn't have to go through this pain."

The guard swings his whip again.

"If only you listened to me. You chose this."

The guard swings his whip again, and again. My father sips his tea.

My father walks to me and grabs my chin in his hand, gently. Slowly I raise my eyes to meet his.

"You shouldn't have come back." He whispers.

The guard swings his whip across my back and the pain finally brings me mercy as I cry out one last time before I'm met with the peace of black.