Open Your Eyes, It's Just a Dream (Escape From Furnace Fanfic)

Chapter Twenty-Two

(Photo Credit: "Da Skullz" by DetectiveWolf on DeviantART, Video: "Heaven Forbid" by The Fray)

My throat ached and my eyes were sore from crying. It was dark when I woke up and the memories of the lockdown were fresh in my mind. I had cried until I couldn't cry anymore and then I just sat in the dark and stared out the bars until they opened. I finally got up after all the inmates had stopped passing my cell and silence fell on me once again. The prison was quieter than normal and people stepped back when I walked towards them; sending my worried looks. I paused as I crossed the courtyard and my eyes landed on the dark red stain on the floor. A couple inmates were trying to scrub it out and their piercing eyes held a mix of emotion when they threw a couple cautious glances my way. Removing my gaze from the floor I took a deep breath and mentally prepared myself to see the other Skulls. I don't know what happened after Carter... After Carter was killed but I could only assume the worse. I took another deep breath, pushing my hair out of my face, and started to walk to the trough room. My path was quickly blocked by a Blacksuit guarding the doors. His rifle laid carefully in his hands and a smirk crossed his lips when I approached.

"Didn't you hear?" He asked, a throaty chuckle following his voice. "No food. Maybe next time you should keep your little pets on a leash. Then again, I couldn't care less if you all died." He laughed again, louder, and I backed away. Someone called my name as I started walking and I snapped my head in the direction of their voice. Christian, Jake, and Tyler were sitting at one of the tables; bruises and gashes littering their bodies. They were alive. Kevin was leaning against the wall, shaking his head slightly and Bodie was glaring at them.

"You... You're alive." I whispered, moving towards them. Jake chuckled slightly then winced and nodded.

"Barely. We hid in the kitchen until the Blacksuits hauled us out." He grinned, despite what had happened. "I thought they were going to kill us on the spot but the just brought us to the Warden. I don't know why, but he didn't do anything. He just talked to us for a moment then sent us back out."

"We got the trough room closed though." Tyler grumbled, flicking a piece of dirt of his leg.

"But we're not dead." Jake responded sharply, looking over at him.

"I'm so happy you're okay." I whispered, pulling them each into a hug. "After... You know... I thought for sure the dogs had found all of you."

"So did we." Jake smiled, then stopped when Bodie glared at him.

"Well I'm glad you aren't dead but I swear to god if you guy ever do that again I will murder each of you personally!" I hissed, grabbing Jake by his collar and pulling him towards me. Bodie's face softened and he and Kevin laughed. "I'm serious! You had no reason to be messing with that kid! Try not to be such f*cking idiots next time!" I glared at them and they shrunk back against the table. Kevin stopped laughing suddenly, looking behind me, and shook his head. His eyes darkened and I turned around. Donovan was standing behind us; Alex and Zee with him. Christian placed a hand lightly on my arm to keep me from going over to them. My eyes met Donovan's and Alex looked over at us, obviously following D's gaze. His face hardened as he saw us and he tensed. In the tense silence the dark stone walls echoed the voices of the other prisoners eerily as they made their way to the duty roster.