Beneath The Waves

(29) 'Hope' is the Thing with Feathers

Chapter 29

Explaining the Sirens' system to a bunch of guys who were already so hopeless they were like empty shells was not easy.

First, it struck denial. Most of them refused to accept that Sirens had powers, or could extract souls.

"What did you think they were?" Ryan shouted in frustration, over the babble of denial. "Over dramatic prison officers? You even call them witches!"

That shut everyone up pretty soon.

Then fear settled in, and finally, hopelessness.

"That's it, then, isn't?" Brian said gloomily. "We're doomed. All of us."

"No, you're not!"Ryan hit the bars in frustration. "That's what they want you to think! And you can't think like that, or they'll be after you next."

"Well then, how do you expect us to think, lad?" Brian glared at him. "You've just told us we're all dead! And you expect us to be thinking about unicorns and rainbows?"

"No! You just – you can't lose hope." Ryan found himself wishing, for the millionth time, that Frankie was here. She was much better at dealing with upset people than he was – kind of ironic, considering how she always said she was afraid of people. "You need to think about positive things – your family, your life back home-"

A guy in the row of cells opposite Ryan gave a soft snort. "Ach. My life sucked anyway."

"Really? More than this?" Ryan gestured to the bars.

"What's the point in thinking about that when we know we'll never get out of here?" a voice yelled angrily. Ryan didn't see the speaker.

"Because I'll get you out of here." The moment Ryan made the promise, he knew he had to fulfil it. What kind of person would he be if he escaped from this place, but left hundreds of helpless people still trapped?

"How?" More than one sceptical voice called out through the darkness.

Ryan's fingers curled around the firelighter in his pocket. "I don't know exactly," he admitted, "but it's been done before." He pulled the firelighter out his pocket and clicked it so a small flame burst into life. "And this scares the shit out of the Sirens."

In the cell beside him, Jack chuckled.

"That's great for you." Brian narrowed his eyes at him. "What about the rest of us?"

"You just have to stay hopeful. If you stay hopeful, the Sirens can't touch you. And..." he hesitated for a second, not sure why. "My friend Frankie, she'll be able to help us. She's good with planning, and-"

"Where is this Frankie lass?"

"I don't know," Ryan admitted again. "But she'll find us."

"How do you know?"

"I-"

"How do you even know she's alive?"

It was the thought Ryan had been trying to keep out his head the whole time. His fists clenched tightly. "She is."

The guy who said his life sucked raised an eyebrow. "You're sure about that."

"I'm alive, aren't I?" Ryan resisted the urge to chuck his firelighter at the guy's head.

"Sure, but you said the Sirens only take guys. So what would they do with a lass, huh? Keep her around as a pet?"

"She-"

"Face it, lad. Your lass is long gone."

"You don't know that, you bastard!" Ryan yelled, shoving at the cell door. Instantly, other shouts joined in.