Piano Keys

Chapter 2

My head pounded as I tried to open my eyes. The light burned my eyes. I shook my head as I tried desperately to regain my full vision. Things started to clear and sharpen slowly. After a quick glance around, I saw that bars surrounded me entirely. I was in a cage.

What was happening to me? I must be dreaming. I shut my eyes tight and re-opened them, but nothing happened. I shot up from my place on the cold hard ground and with heavy breathing, began to try and shake the bars as if they were magically going to disappear.

"I'd calm down if I were you." In the cell next to me, I could barely make out the shape of a woman. "They'll punish you for freaking out. And trust me that will be painful."

"Who-what-" I couldn't even form a sentence. This was all so surreal.

"Kid, look you're trapped in a cell. Try and calm down. I ain't gunna be answering your questions so if you really have to ask them, write them down on this." The stranger in the cell next to me slid a book over. I reached out and took hold of the cheap bindings. Inside was a small pencil and a few of pages with harsh scribbles. I suspected they were drawings gone wrong.

I focused on my thoughts for a moment while I looked for a blank page. 'What do I remember? Okay, I was playing the piano. There had been a bomb threat. Good Cali, you're thinking now. I think the bomb had gone off, someone carried me away and tied me up.'

I placed the pencil between my fingers and began to write.

Dear Journal,

I guess today is day 1. I'm in a cage of sorts; it's kind of like a jail cell, only it's just a blanket and me, no bed or anything. I don't really know why I'm here other than the fact that a bomb went off and this where I woke up. Upon inspecting my body, I only have minor cuts and bruises; I'm thankful of that. At this point, I'm just trying to breathe and stay calm. I can't let my imagination get the best of me; I need to think through the reason why I am here. My best guess is that it has something to do with this nasty war. I have a feeling I'm nowhere near home.

Sincerely,

Cali

Just as I finished writing, a big door was swung open and a simple looking man came in with two platters. One was handed through a small gap in the bars to the gal in the cell neighbouring mine and the next he handed to me in my own. A very stale piece of what looked to be a burger bun sat on the platter, and in a little cup next to the bun was a small glass of water. At first sight of the food, my stomach rumbled as if I had never had food before and I downed the bun. The bread was in fact as stale as it can be, but it was food. Next, I gulped down the water and almost spit it out. I had to force myself to swallow it. The consistency of the water was almost slimy and it tasted repulsive.

My head was still pounding so I thought it was best to just sleep.

* * *

The second day was mostly spent sleeping and nothing big happened. The water the second day wasn't as repulsive, but then again I was expecting sludge. I could tell that something had gone wrong with my body. I was sick, and it was getting bad.

Today was day 3. I still knew nothing as to what was going on. Earlier today, the girl in the cell next to me was taken and she still hasn't come back. My fear had slowly begun to rise and I fear she may never come back. I sat leaning against the bars, trying my best not to swallow because of the screaming pain I felt when I did. I had a fever and I assumed I got sick from the repulsive water.

The door to the room was slowly opened and two men with guns walked in. If I thought my fear was high before, it would be off the charts now. They walked toward my cell and my heart was beating through my chest. They opened the door and I felt as though I couldn't breathe.