A different kind of Knight

Chapter 25

The metal cuffs fell freely from his wrists as he was unable to react in time. Eyes focused on the falling cuffs, he knew he cannot stop the inevitable. *CLANG!* The chatter of the guards outside fell silent. "Ey! Fermare disturbo!" (Hey! Stop that noise!) Someone was evidently disturbed by the noise. He also reminded out into the hallway to ask if the guard that Luke recently stomped the brains out of to not kill the human prisoner. "Non uccidere il bastardis!" (And don't kill the bastard!)  Luke's eyes opened as wide as possible as he froze. His breath was stuck in his throat, unable to exhale.  The other unseen guard joked in response to the chastise, knowing full well that there are almost no consequences if a predator were to kill a prey animal. For them, it is as natural as drinking water. "Salvo che tu volere libero cena, con libero requiem! AHAHAHIHIHUHO!" (Unless you want a free snack, with vacation! AHAHAHIHIHUHO!) The joke came with a few giggles and snorts as the joker laughed away at his own product. His shrill voice echoed down the hallway. His partner voiced his disapproval of the joke albeit the laughter coming from him said otherwise. "Ora non dirlo eum scioccheze!" (Now, do not say such nonsense!) Both of them only giggled further. Luke's fear was replaced with burning hatred. Hearing them all laugh at his misfortune stirred his soul. A burning sensation threatens to burst open with anger. Slowly he bent over to unlock the last set of restraints. The cuffs on his ankles fell away. Each of the cuffs on his ankles were removed with hands that no longer shook from fear, but are instead methodical and efficient. Vengeance that is cold like steel and free from empathy as logic reigns. He straightens his spine, straight as a ramrod. He remembered the laspistol still sitting inside its holster. He reached for it and brought it out. He stared at it. The golden aquila shined under the dim light as it contrasted against the army green body. Holding it is supposed to make him feel comforted as it gives him the means to protect himself. But it only filled him with despair as he remembered the two adventurers. Perhaps, they would've lived had he remembered that he had it, but his mind was clouded at the moment where he could've saved them. Inexperience of combat outside the suit and the complacency where he is sure that he will fight and die within the suit left him clueless of how to fight without it. His own decisions, their deaths. They died so that he could live. His father's words rang. "YOU USELESS CHILD OF MINE!" One word in particular hurts most. The word "useless" burnt itself into his psyche painfully, a mark that will forever remain a monument of his actions. He gripped his hair and began to pull them from their roots as he crumbled away. Tears silently fell down as he tried to stop the destruction of his mind. It will reach a boiling point eventually, especially if there is no outlet for the pressure to release. He feels like he is about to burst. The need to scream, to release all of it came. It overtook him. "AAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHH!!!" The guards were visibly shocked as a bloodcurdling scream came out of nowhere. "EY!" The chastiser yelled angrily down the hallway.

...

No answer came forth which only made him angrier. Then they heard slow heavy footsteps. The familiar clacking of Aldaci's nails against the stone wasn't there, it sounded different. It sounded more like shoes. Aldaci never wore shoes. Predators or prey never wear shoes. Only humans and their furless brethren do. Whoever is down there is not their kin. Their hairs stood on end as they felt something gazing at them murderously. It is a strange feeling. This feeling. The feeling of being hunted. They can feel the stare of a predator behind the veil of darkness. Both dropped their playing cards and reached for their wooden truncheons in a clumsy manner, making the table and the contents of said table spill. Liquor, currency, and games spilled onto the floor. They stood themselves up but remained hunched and low, their hairs stood straight. An intimidation tactic left from their evolutionary ancestors when in danger. *Toc. Toc. Toc.* The strange noise coming from the dark hallway only got louder with each passing interval. *Toc. Toc. Toc! Toc! Toc! TOC! TOC! TOC!* A being emerged from the dark depths. It is a human, a very pitiful one at that as tears trailed down from his eyes and snot dribbled from his nose. It is the same human that those two brought. The one with the weird clothes and symbols. The ape's eyes are glazed with cold unfeeling malice. The joker tried to say something but his words were stuck in his throat. "E-eius. Eius. Eius. EIUS!" His partner interrupted him as he told him to finish what he was trying to say in a very  nervous manner. "Q-quae sunt voi conatur dicere‽" (What are you trying to say‽) "Eius piede. Eius... Piede." (His foot. His... Foot.) He whispered. The joker's merry tone is no longer there as his eyes stayed glued to the ape's foot for some reason. He does not know what or why is he scared of this human's foot but he will not tolerate to have his kind and himself look weak. The chastiser tried to break him away from his fear.