A Gamblers Luck | Jesper Fahey

Surprises in the Prison Sector

Eliana and Nina trailed Kaz up the stairs towards the cells. Why Bo Yul-Bayur would be kept in a standard security cell was beyond Eliana's understanding. 

This is a waste of time. She thought with a shake of her head. 

Eliana matched Kaz's stride. "Where is Jesper?" She asked as calmly as she could. 

"He's getting rope," Kaz replied. He seemed distracted. Searching every cell he could find like his life depended on it. 

What if Mila is here? It's a silly thought. 

Of course she's not. 

But it wouldn't hurt to ask.

"Kaz?" She asked tentatively.

"What."

"Would they keep captured grisha here?"

"They only keep grisha here until their trials. Which end in execution." 

"Oh," she replied. Any trace of hope was gone, replaced by a melancholy feeling.

You shouldn't have hoped. 

"I'll meet you guys by the incinerator," mumbled Kaz. With no explanation for the sudden change in plans. 

Nina looked at Eliana, "Do we keep checking the cells?"

Before Eliana could answer she heard a voice. She dragged Nina into a cell. They laid against the floor. When they heard no guards walk past they exited the cell. They heard the voice again. 

"Who is that?" Whispered Eliana. 

"Help!" Said the voice. 

"It's coming from the cells..." Answered Nina. 

They walked slowly towards the voice. 

"Pleaseee," it moaned. They looked into the cell and saw a woman with bronze skin and curly black hair laying on the floor. 

"Ma'am?" Asked Nina, her voice quivering slightly. The woman rolled over and faced them. Her face looked exactly like someone Eliana had seen before. 

Mila. 

"Mila!" Cried Eliana. 

"El?" Asked Mila. She dragged herself off the floor of the cell and grabbed the bars. 

"You know each other?" Asked Nina, tears shining in her green eyes. 

"She took me in after my parents died," whispered Eliana. She grabbed Mila's hands through the bars. 

"Your so much bigger now," sobbed Mila. She reached a shaking hand through the bars and wiped away the tears streaming down Eliana's face. 

"I know," Eliana choked out. 

Nina laid a hand on her shoulder just as the Elderclock chimed. "We have to leave."

"I'm not leaving her," said Eliana between choked sobs. 

"How can we get her out?"

"Leave me," said Mila. 

"I'm not leaving you," said Eliana. I'm not running again.

"There's a guard coming," said Nina urgently. 

Eliana walked towards the guard. She grabbed him, muffling his scream, and stripped him of all weapons. He was scrawny for a Fjerdan, especially a guard.

"I'm your friend," he sputtered out in Kerch. 

"How?" 

"Brekker hired me to bust that old hag out of her cell," said the guard. 

Eliana hit him. "Don't call her a hag." 

"Hurry up El," said Nina. 

Eliana shoved the guard up towards the cell. She was surprised the wall didn't crack with the force of it. "Get. Her. Out," she snarled.

The guard took out a key and unlocked the cell. he switched into a prisoner uniform and stashed the guard clothes in a flower pot near the cell. 

"Your willing to take my place?" Asked Mila. 

"Good money," the guard replied smoothly. 

"Kerch and their money," mumbled Mila. 

The group began their way towards the incinerator. Eliana mentally took back every bad thing she ever said about Kaz Brekker. She would be forever in his debt. Just when they entered the incinerator room and greeted the rest of the group, the Elderclock began to chime. Not the steady tolling of the hour, but a shrill clamor, high and percussive. 

A sound of alarm.

The Fjerdans knew a prisoner was missing.