Shifters

Where There's A Will, There's A Way!

A monotonous tapping sounded throughout the dark and gloomy hallway as a continuous droplet of water fell singularly onto a torn metal sheet. Interrupting its otherwise peaceful flow at odd intervals was the banging of a hollowed pipe on what could only be a concrete surface. Accompanying the annoyance-inducing sounds were several moans, cries and groans of others held captive within the dungeon. 

Sitting patiently in his cell, Lenny stared at a blackened pebble no larger than his fingernail, taking care to keep an ear out for any approaching guards that may be patrolling the area. Staring at the stone, his mind flashed to how lucky he'd been in managing to hide it from his captors. If not for his quick thinking, this stone, just like his bracelet, weapons and all of his other effects would've been confiscated along with Hill's belongings. Thoughts crossing over his larger companion, Lenny frowned as he wondered how he'd managed to retain his silence for this long. Since their capture, Hill had attempted many escape plans, all of which ended in complete failure. Even after being subdued and beaten to an inch of his life, the man had somehow always found the strength the shout, scream and hurl insults at the top of his lungs. 

Before he could give the matter more thought however, a light click reached Lenny's sensitive ears, shaking him out of his thoughts. 

'Are the guards here already?' he wondered, hastily jamming the stone in a crevice he'd manually dug out a few days prior, 'They're a bit early aren't they?'

Repositioning himself on his cot, Lenny feigned a discouraged look as he stared at the opposite grimy wall unwaveringly. As per usual, the patrolling guards slammed their batons into into the metal bars of the prisoner's cells in order to wake those that had somehow managed to attain some form of rest. Snorting in disgust at their captors' spiteful nature, Lenny stared out of the corner of his left eye as they slowly but surely approached his cell. Averting his gaze a fraction as light from a crystal he'd recently discovered to be known as  Lorian shone directly into his face, Lenny tightened his grip as a strange pulsating feeling assailed him. 

'What's happening,' he questioned internally, clenching his fists even tighter as the feeling increased. 

"You there!" an armed guard shouted, pointing directly at him as they stopped in front of his cell.

Ignoring the guard's words, Lenny continued to gaze at the wall, retaining his silence despite the hateful stares being thrown his way. 

"I said," the guard repeated in a drastically amplified tone, "You there!"

Flinching at the sound of the unexpectedly, booming voice, Lenny's gaze faltered for a moment before stabilizing. 

"Did you see that?" the guard asked, motioning to his companion, who in turn nodded slowly as they maintained eye contact with Lenny, "I told you he's no mute. He's probably been playing dumb in order to avoid a beating," he continued, fiercely slapping his palm with a metal baton.

"Maybe we should give him a taste of what we've been giving his friend," the other guard sneered, light casting multiple shadows as he swung the Lorian styled torch around wildly. 

"I think I just mi-" he said stopping short as a burst of disgruntled laughter cut him off. 

"Why don't you try that with me punk?" Hill laughed, suddenly springing to life. 

"Oh," the first guard replied, "looks like someone's awake after their previous beat down."

"I could say the same to you," Hilled replied with a hearty laugh, "How's that jaw of yours holding up after your last little visit?"

Nostrils flaring as the man's hand unconsciously strayed to his face, the guard's demeanor changed to an ugly one as he resumed, "You brute, just you wait. When the interrogators arrive, I hope you'll be able to maintain that snark attitude of yours."