Purple Roses

Chapter 31 - Ashes to Ashes

We all sit quietly in the dismal, dimly lit dungeon of a prison holding cell. Cold, stern iron bars trapping us, leaving us to the mercy of the people with the key.

"Do... Do you reckon Oscar is okay?" James asks, turning to me, with fear in his voice.

"I think so..." I say, before trying to sound more positive and adding "...but he knows what he's doing so I'm sure he'll be fine."

"What even happened? You were with him, weren't you?" Mum asks me, sounding fairly concerned and also irritated.

"Yes, but he got upset and stormed off and I lost him..." I tell her.

"But... why? What made him storm off? Did you say something to him?" Mum questions.

I feel my heart rate begin to pick up and the feeling of guilt slowly crawling up my back.

"I... I said some things to him that I shouldn't have, it was the heat of the moment, I wasn't thinking straight, I was angry... but... oh it's all my fault isn't it..."

Mum sits in silence for a moment, debating whether to comfort me or scold me.

"it's... it's not your fault that you got upset." Mum tells me. "That being said, how on earth do you lose sight of a literal asthmatic who is five years younger than you? Even I could catch up with him, I have a bad back."

"There's so many corridors, and while I was giving chase I was caught by the guard.

"He's obviously not been found yet so I think he must be doing a good job, I imagine they're looking for him." Mum interrupts. "Oh please be alright Ozz..."

Silence.

It could be minutes, it could be hours. We have no idea how long we"ve been here, harsh, blight, lights illuminate the corridor of cells. The incandescent bulbs buzzing away in boredom.

Suddenly, I hear the sound of fast running footsteps, the sound getting louder and louder and louder, echoing through the corridors like a marching band.

I expect to see a guard, or even the King. Instead, I see no other and Oscar appear outside the cell, breathless and tired.

His breathing is the fastest I've ever seen or heard before. His face looks desperate and pale.

"I- need- my- inhaler-" He gasps between breaths.

He practically collapses onto the bars, but keeps himself up. Mum instinctively goes to grab him.

I realise I have his inhaler on me and I give it to mum because I think Oscar's too wiped out to do it himself.

"Right here you go love." She says, letting him breathe into it for three seconds or so.

I can 't imagine what it's like having asthma, Oscar has told me before that it feels like he's drowning on land.

Mum tries her best to try and hug him, even with the bars obstructing them.

As he begins to regain his breath. I see him pull out a loose bit of malleable wire.

"I... I can pick this lock... I think..." he tells us, still breathing pretty quick. "I think the guards might know where I am... I can't be certain though..."

"Are they? I promise everything will be alright, just start with that lock... take your time though, I don't think they know you're here specifically yet." Mum tells him.

I see Oscar struggle with the lock pick, and I see him become increasingly more frustrated.

"Take your time Ozzy." Mum repeats again.