Oops! I Caught a Genie!

Chapter 27

I was put in my original cell, iron around my limbs again. I was beginning to feel like a creature from Supernatural, Just clap me in iron and I can’t do squat.

“I have a complaint to make about the quality of this room! I would like to see the manager!” I yelled, I was in a confrontational mood.

“Nora?...” A quiet voice to my left said.

“S-Shullat? How?”

“Shh, believe it or not, they actually monitor the hallway.”

“Where are you? Did they catch you? They said you had developed djinn sympathy.”

“Yes, they caught me unaware. I’m in the cell next to yours, there is a small hole in the wall for ventilation. They assume no one knows about it.”

“What about Fritz?”

“I have no idea, he should be fine. They want to study him more.”

“Djinn sympathy?”

“I’m… I don't know, I don't really see the point in this war.”

“Join the club, all I know is that someone enslaved someone else and stuff hit the fan.”

“Basically, yeah,” Shullat said, suppressing laughter.

“I’ve never asked, but don’t you have abilities?”

“Yes, but mine are rather weak in comparison to what the captain thinks you are capable of.”

“Well thats fine and dandy, but I have no idea how to use mine. And these chains are iron.”

“Yep. Small world, mine are too. It’s standard for our prisons.”

“Is there any way to escape?” I asked cheekily.

“I have no clue.”

“Do you have any friends on the outside?” I asked him.

“No… Everyone here is loyal to the cause.”

“I might…”

“Really? Who?”

“Actually he is Fritz’s friend…”

“So he’s a djinn?” Shullat said, appearing to get more hopeful of escape.

“Marid.”

“What?”

“He is fond of rubbing that in people’s faces.”

“Okay…?”

“Anyway, that is why the marble broke I think. He contacted me and said that he had picked up Liana and was looking for us. He also said he had a message for Fritz, but he got cut off.”

“Were you able to give him a clue as to where we were?”

“No… He actually asked, but said immediately after that I wasn't able to answer.”

“Do you know how he contacted you?”

“No, but I assume it was because my powers were activated.”

“So if we could get them activated again, we might be able to get help.”

“How though? These chains are iron.”

“If I knew, would we still be sitting here?” He grumbled.

I tried squishing my hand to try and slide it out of the shackle but it was too tight. I kept trying, always failing. Until they came undone suddenly. My hands flew forward from the momentum I had been using to try and yank my hands free. If I were in a manga or anime, a large question mark would have appeared above my head. The way I was pulling should not have freed me by opening the shackles. It was too dark to see exactly how they broke, but the pin holding them closed was gone. I felt around the area to find them but I couldn't find them. I searched for a few minutes before remembering that, hey your shackles just fell off don't look a gift horse in the mouth!

“Shullat!” I hissed.

“What?”

“My shackles broke!”

“What?!”

“I don’t know how! They just fell off! Hold on, I might be able to get to you.”

“No! They have guards in the hallway!”

“Do you know when their shift changes?”
“That only works in the movies,” He deadpanned.

“Can I knock him out?”

A snort came as my answer.

“I’m going to try!”

“Wait! Lets try and contact your friend first!”

“How? He contacted me.”

“Activate your powers, do you remember how?”

“Yes… But didn't you say it was dangerous?”

“Well, desperate times. Be sure to focus.”

“What do I use? I lost the marble.”

“You’ll just have to rely on your mental power. The marble was a training tool, something external to channel your energy through without the possibility of damaging yourself. You will have to do without it then.”

Now that I knew that I could accidentally kill myself using my powers, it was going to be a lot harder to remain calm. Remembering the old djinn’s instructions, he had left out the part about me having a chance of dying. That was either prejudice or he hadn't wanted to scare me. I’m going with the second one because I won't taint the memory of the dead.

I closed my eyes, pointless as the cell was nearly pitch black, and tried to feel that part of my brain that allowed me to use my energy. I still felt like the main character in a disney movie, but it was getting a little bit easier to come to terms with this.

I tried to feel the floating feeling that I head felt while travelling with Mangoo, concentrating on the pull of something that couldn't be put into words. I almost lost that concentration when Magoo’s voice came to me.

“Nora! Keep the connection, i’m trying to track you.”

I decided to try responding.

We’re on a ship. Fritz is tied up in an interrogation room. I am in the cells with an ally. They traced your last communication. I thought to myself, hoping that he could hear.

“Good job on communicating! I didn't expect you to- Anyway, we gotta make this quick then. I’m leaving Liana at the cabin. Is there enough room in the cell for me?”

What? Uh I think so.

“If I die, i’m haunting your ass.”