Frenzy & Torch

Chapter 35: Breakout

Elizabeth's wrists had seen better days. She was pinned spread eagle alongside Annabelle against the steel wall of a prisoner's chamber. They'd been downgraded to their trousers and tank tops and Elizabeth's sword was nowhere to be seen. Next to them was a bulky console that was built into the floor.

"These fucking pussies," Elizabeth said as she pushed against the steel restraints. "I've been tied up better than this before and I wasn't even a prisoner."

Annabelle was hunched over with her eyes closed. She slowly opened them. "Elizabeth .... "

Elizabeth was well on her way into recounting her escapade back home. "The chick who tied me up was a real pro, she was able to talk me into it and everything."

"Elizabeth."

"She ate my ass like a bowl of ice cream— "

"Elizabeth!"

Elizabeth boomed with sarcastic enthusiasm. "Oh, hey, Sparkles! Welcome back to the world of the living!" She lowered her voice and hissed, "How the fuck can you sleep at a time like this, huh?"

"I wasn't sleeping, I was meditating."

"Don't bullshit me, Sparkles, you were fuckin' sleepin'! We're strung up like pigs in a goddamn slaughterhouse yet you're actin' like we're on vacation!"

The Sixth Reich soldiers held a group of civilians at gunpoint and coerced the women into surrendering "or else." Annabelle's big heart and Elizabeth not being one to leave her partner hanging led to them being taken to a planet of sprawling fields and valleys that was not very notable in itself. They were brought to the underground portion of a secret facility powered by modified cosmic energy that made the restraints impossible to escape from and mostly negated Annabelle's magical abilities.

"I don't think they string up pigs at the slaughterhouse, I think they just kill them."

"Bitch, they string 'em up! I worked at a slaughterhouse one summer during high school, I know what I'm talkin' about!"

The base commander, a ruthless SS officer, entered the room. Her pristine grey uniform had a multitude of ribbons that denoted her distinguished service record. The light reflected off the skull and crossbones insignia on the black band that ran through the middle of her peaked cap. She had the blue eyes, peachy skin, and perfect jawline of a movie star, and her blonde hair was in a neat bun. Next to her was Chief Robinson.

"Guten Morgen, I'm Oberstleutnant Weiß and this is ... well, you know who he is." Her lips formed a sadistic smile when she locked eyes with Annabelle. "Wonder why you can't cast more of your little spells, magician? What's stopping you is specially made cosmic energy, tailored just for you. It's called Zauberabwehr, and it negates all your magic, so now you're just like everybody else."

Annabelle's stomach sank. She'd never felt more helpless in her life.

Robinson chuckled and bowed his head in quick acknowledgment. "Frenzy, Torch, good to see you."

"Call us by our real names, asshole," Elizabeth snarled.

Robinson waved his hands like he was trying to diffuse an argument between two high schoolers. "Woah, woah, what's with the hostility?"

"Is this what it's fuckin' come to? You're letting this fascist bitch hold us captive under her dumbass base while Xitanker and Kasangar sixty-nine each other?"

"The only reason you're still alive is because I've allowed it!" Robinson yelled.

Elizabeth snorted and rolled her eyes. "Okay, tough guy— "

Weiß pressed a console button that surged electricity through Elizabeth.

"Stop it!" Annabelle yelled.