The Cage Breaker

7- Helpfulness Acheived

I sit on my bed, rocking back and forth on the heels of my feet, and ponder what Tori said. She called me Karis too. Again. I'm not stupid. Karis is me. I'm Karis. That's not to hard. I've got a name! But I like Cage better. Why? Because I earned it. And something you earn is better than just being given something.

The main question is, why can't I remember that I'm Karis? I know I'm a criminal. Being the keeper of the cages is just as imprisoning as being inside a cage itself. And, really, I am in one. As far as I know, I've never been outside this room, except for ages ago when I ran away. It didn't go well. Anyway, I must've been out there. Outside. I long to feel fresh air on my face, the wind in my hair... but I never will.

This whole thing is really irritating me. I kinda wish that the whole Karis thing never happened. I would be happy not knowing, happy in the dark. Then I wouldn't be so irritated and confused.

URGH.

I just need to sleep. Refresh myself a bit. 30 minutes later, however, I discover that this isn't going to work. I need to do something! I'm too restless to sleep. My mind is whirring in my head like a machine. Click click whir. Cogs turning, gears grinding. Sleep will not happen, because I cannot find this machines off button.

I could go and see Tori, ask her who she is, how she knows me, who I am. But I fear that would be awkward, and I don't want to get off to a rocky start. I'll ask her tomorrow.

And so I do the only thing I can. I go to the only place I can- Gray.

•••••

As I pad silently through the cages towards Gray and Skye, I let myself relax. All around me are the snores of the prisoners and the sound of calm, steady breathing. No hitching breaths, no angry words, no smashing or bashing or screams. No harsh words or swearing. Calm.

The surrounding calm helps me to think. Not about Tori and Karis and the past, but about what Gray was saying about his sister. Since Tori came, I've had no time to think about the fire. I've always assumed that Gray must have family out there. It never occurred to me that they may be dead. But when I look back, really that's just me being naïve. He's in the cages for gods sake! It really shouldn't be surprising that his family is dead!

Thinking about Grays family makes me think about my own. I guess they must be dead. They could be alive, and if they are, do they know where I am? Do they think I'm dead?

I'm so lost in thought that I don't realise that I've reached Gray and Skye. Gray is asleep, curled up in a ball on the floor of his cage, his arms wrapped around his shins and his head tucked up by his knees. The dim lights make his white blond hair look white silver.

Skye, however, is awake. Her caramel blonde hair is tangled and flopping in her face as she leans casually against the bars of her cage, her arm hanging out and her hand scraping the grimy cobbled floor. Her eyes are half open, and she looks on the edge of sleep, but when she sees me she rubs at her eyes groggily and smiles at me. I smile back.

When I reach to stand by Skye, she is sitting up and running her hands through her matted hair. I can tell from the look on her face that she is dying for a hairbrush, and I wish I could give her one.

"Hi," I say quietly, so as not to wake Gray. Skye returns my greeting.

"So, Cay, what brings you here at this time of night?" she asks, a smile playing across her full lips. Skye loves nicknames. Everyone has one. She talks about the other prisoners with code names, and even Cage isn't short enough for her. So Cay was the obvious next step. Personally, I don't really like the name, but when I told her this, she just made a point of calling me Cay even more. One doth not argueth with the Skyeth she had told me.

"Can't sleep," I say," the inner, deepest parts of my mind are playing with me, talking to me and, ultimately, violently destroying all hopes of sleep. I decided talking with someone would help."

"And you chose me because..."

"I don't want to have to talk to Tori, and she's next to Indi and Chi-Chi," I tell her truthfully. I trust Skye completely and utterly. I don't care that she was hatching escape plans. I believe Skye when she says she was falsely accused, and she deserves better than this, better than me, better than prison. She's a good person.

Skye raises her eyebrow at my words (well, tries to. She's never been able to, and it bugs her. It is no condolence that I can't either) but presses me no further. That is one o the reasons she's so easy to get along with.

"Cay, can I ask you something?" Skye asks abruptly. Her face is cautious suddenly, and I'm instantly on my guard. This is about the escape plan. I can tell.

"Yeah...." I tell her, slightly hesitant.

"Something important," she continues earnestly.

"Ok..." the word is long and drawn out so much that it almost sounds like a question. Skye smiles reassuringly, but I don't smile back.

"Look, Cay, how comfortable would you be with breaking the law?" I stop. This is what I thought. And I'm not sure how to reply. I remember what I promised Hale, that I wouldn't leave him, and I don't want to break that promise. However, I want all my other friends to be free. Maybe I can take Hale with me... somehow....

"Depends, I guess. What are we talking about here?" I say, still unsure. Skye fidgets uncomfortably on the cold metal floor of her cage.

"Say, supposedly, a prison break? Hypothetically, obviously," she finishes in a rush, pushing the words out hurriedly.

"Um, how hypothetic is this prison break?" I reply. I still don't know how to answer her. My word to Hale and Grays story are swirling around and around my head.

"Well, it all depends on whether you would join in or not."

"Ummmmm," I'm still trying to stall, and it's no working. I have to make a decision, I have to clear my head. I close my eyes and steady my breathing. Gray or Hale? Gray or Hale?Skye and Indi and Chi-Chi and Gray or Hale?

"I suppose I may be able to help..." I mutter and look down at the floor. Skye has a huge smile on her face, but I'm not sure if I made the right choice or not.