Willa Mansi

The Sleeping Chamber

"Well," Tex sighed heavily as we rode towards the Sleeping Chamber. I knew him and the men were tired. We had been traveling all day.

"Anyone that wants to turn back," Blade looked around at us, "now is your time to do it."

"I'm ready," Bud nodded his head.

"What about you, Doc?" Blade looked at me and rubbed his chin, "Ain't no reason for you to get shot at. You could ride back some and set up a campsite."

"We'll get Ann and come for you," Bud offered. He looked at young Tex, "You too."

I shook my head, "Nope. I'm in."

"You sure?" Bud asked me softly.

"I got her in there. I'm helping to get her out," I smiled, then added seriously, "I owe you some."

"I'm goin' too," Tex frowned, "No use tryin' to change my mind."

"Let's go," Blade nudged his horse and rode towards the front gate.

"Everybody stick to the plan," I warned.

Blade laughed, "I ain't kilt nobody for over a week!"

"Cool!" Tex said under his breath.

As we slowly rode up to the gate, two men with M-14's came out of the guard house. "Help you boys?" one man asked, putting the butt of his M-14 on his hip.

"Jet here?" Blade frowned. The man nodded.

"Let him know Blade is here with friends," he waved his hand at us.

"Yo, Jet," the other man yelled back at the guard house.

A tall, black man stepped out, laughing, "Blade, when we gonna go huntin', man?"

Blade laughed, "You're always on guard duty!"

He scratched the stubble on his chin, "Yeah. Dat true."

"Can I get a look inside?" Blade pointed his hand at the small hospital.

"I don't want no trouble now," he shook his head.

Blade held his hands up in surrender, "Just lookin', Jet."

"Awe right," he nodded with a smile. "Don't tear nothin' up," he warned and flipped a switch inside the guard house.

"Thanks," Blade smiled as the gate slid open. He waved his hand and Jet gave him a sharp salute. We rode our horses through the gate and it slid closed behind us. Bud looked over his shoulders and around the parking lot. A few abandoned cars were parked in forgotten spaces and leaves and trash scattered about.

"Looks like nobody is here," Tex said softly.

"I expected shooting our way in," Bud mumbled.

"That's on our way out," I shook my head.

"Out?" Tex frowned.

"We're kidnapping that girl," Blade shrugged, "we have to."

"Where do we start?" Bud asked as we dismounted.

"She's here," I nodded my head at the building.

We went inside and a man smiled at us. "How can I help you?"

"My friend has never been here before," Blade smiled at him.

The man turned to Bud, "What kind of girl do you like?" he smiled like a snake.

"Blonde, nice figure, blue eyes," he gave the description quick.

"We have lots of those," he laughed, "Eye color don't matter," he clapped his hand on Bud's shoulder, "All their eyes are closed."

"You're not here for conversation," I said and Bud glared at me hatefully.

"They all got names, though," Tex offered.

The man shrugged, "I could check the files."

"How many women are left in here?" I asked.

"Only ten or twelve," he shook his head, "Most woke up and left."

"Well, that's all we need to know," Blade laughed, walked up behind the man and slit his throat.

"Blade!" I yelled, taking a step back with Bud.

"We don't need this asshole," Blade gestured to the man as if he were trash and stepped over him. He ran his blade across his thigh, "Let's find your wife," he pointed at Bud.

"She's here," he looked around at the doors.

"Spread out," Luke ordered us.

"Keep an eye out," Blade told him and pointed at the front entrance. Luke gave a half of a salute and ran over to it.

Bud quickly opened one door, then another. I went to a room and shoved the door open. I saw a young, black woman peacefully laying in the acrylic box. I was reminded of the Snow White cartoon that was made a thousand years ago.

"Here!" Blade cried out and we ran over to the room he had opened.

"That's not her," Bud sighed sorrowfully.

"Here!" Tex called and Bud ran over to him.

"My God," Bud's voice warbled and he stumbled into the room.

"Careful!" I yelled when I got to the door as he tore back the lid.  I took his arm, "Be careful!" I urged.

"I want her out of this damn thing!" he snapped, pulling his arm from me.

"You could probably put her into shock," I scolded and checked her pulse.

"Well?" Bud barked and I could hear him swallow hard, his chest heaving with deep breathes.

I looked at him, "She's alive, but I don't know how she'll be."

"What do ya mean, Doc?" Tex frowned at me.

"She's comatose," I looked down at her, "I don't even know how we're going to get her out of here."

"Like this," Bud said, nudged me back and stepped forward.  He raised her up to sit, brought her body close to him and got her to her feet. He squated down and let her body fall across his back. He straightened and looked at Blade, "Get us outta here."

"Come on," Blade turned and we ran for the door.