𝐇𝐞𝐫 𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐬

74- neighbor

When I open my eyes again, the ragged breathing is gone. The dripping of the water hitting the ground is the only sound heard.

I open my eyes wider, and can now see the light silhouette of a door at the end of a grand tunnel. After ever 30 feet, a new metal cell is placed. I can't quite see if they're filled, but I assume they're empty as I can't hear any sound. Or maybe the people inside have long lost being able to.

I now sit up smoothly, stretching my arms above my head in the process. My head feels a lot less heavy, and my eyes barely try closing anymore. They didn't drug me again this time.

If I just have to sit here and do nothing,  I'm fine by that. A lot worse could've happened to me. I still don't know who or what took me and where, but at the moment that's the thing I care the least about. I can only think about my brothers safety and health. Are they here too? I'm praying they're not because it would be extremely hard to keep them as quiet as it is in here, so that would mean that..

They can't be here.

All of a sudden, the light from the silhouette of the door magnifies, and I have to squint my eyes shut in order to not be blinded by the source of light invading the hallway.

I hear a few groans, seemingly coming from 2 men, and a tud from the cell next to mine. The next thing I know, Is the door shutting again, abating the light I once saw a way out of
here in.

I now know for sure I'm not the only one in these cells, as I can clearly hear the ragged breathing of the man next to me. I can't see him with the minimal amount of light, but I'm assuming he still lays down as he hasn't moved from the moment he's thrown into his cell.

I don't dare to make a sound, almost doing as much as avoiding to breathe, in fear of the man being a gruesome creature.

He's a man after all, something Medea makes sure to imply every chance she gets.

Medea. My friends. What will they think of me being gone? Will they even notice? How long have I been here anyway? Maybe they won't even notice my absence. Maybe my brothers even called them to tell them I'm sick. I doubt they'd do that, but I hope they did as I don't want to explain everything to my friends just yet. Atleast, that is, If I ever get out of here. Maybe I won't ever be able to see the sunlight bathing on my face. Maybe I won't be able to ever see my loved ones again.

However I get freaked out by the thought, I have to stay realistic. I have accepted I'll die young long ago, even tried to make my suspicions true, but my brothers haven't. My friends haven't. They'll have to grieve without an extended arm of me to rest on. Without a reassuring smile coming from me, telling them it's all going to be okay. I can't let them go through that. I'll have to live. If it isn't for myself, let it be for them. I won't make that mistake again. I won't be selfish like that again.

A groan comes from the man next to me. And I would've sworn I've heard that sound before. But then I remember I might have heard it coming from him before because maybe I've been here for a few days already. A week. Maybe even a month. I wouldn't know. There's no knowing of time around here, only that constant dripping of water. That sound alone is driving me crazy.