Matthew was chained to the floor of a very large and very cold room. It had a glass ceiling and the stench of rotten eggs was wafting across the air.
He gave a humorless laugh," Death by water," He said nodding toward the drains into the stone walls. He looked up at the glass ceiling, through which he could see nothing but gray clouds.
Ironic, He thought, I suggested this as a punishment once. He rattled his chains.
He would have continued to sit there thinking about the irony of his situation, thinking of how quickly his death was approaching, and all the while rattling his chains, but he was interrupted by the sound of rushing water. He had been right about his punishment coming soon except he didn't exactly want to be right at this moment. The drains were pouring out steady streams of crystal clear water. The room that served as his prison cell, stone cold floor and walls to match, glass ceiling, was rapidly filling with water. He looked down at his chains and smiled. It wasn't because he was particularly happy about being chained to the floor, but he was thinking about Marlo. He couldn't stop the flood of memories and also the rush of satisfaction it brought him to think that Marlo was the last person he would see.
He blinked and realized that the water was now splashing on his shoulders. He didn't feel afraid or worried, he just stayed there and watched the water move. His mind wandered back to Marlo. He knew that he should have been trying to escape but no matter how hard he tried he could never get her out of his head. It wasn't a bad thing, he liked it. He saw her. Her brown eyes, long brown hair, her hands in his. He remembered how well they had fit together, her sense of humor, the way she walked. The water was barely reaching chin.
Suddenly, he felt a wave of white hot rage. He was angry at Master and the others fro hurting her, he was angry that he couldn't protect her from her own fears, angry that he was here right now instead of with her. The water was brushing his lips. He yanked at his chains.
He was breathing heavily as he thought, I will survive this for her. I will see her again, even if she doesn't want to see me. From this point on I promise that I will do everything I can to keep Marlo safe. I just need a little bit more time.
The water finally reached above his head. He was completely submersed in water.
Marlo. Her name echoed in his head.
He gave a viscous yank on the chains. Nothing. He gave another. Nothing.
Marlo.
He focused everything on her and as his mind was filled with thoughts of her and a future where she was his and nothing was wrong, he yanked as hard as he could on the chains. They snapped in two like they were a twig instead of strong metal. After realizing that he could get off of the floor he swam to the surface of the water. His head hit the glass ceiling.
Marlo.
He put his fist through the glass and climbed out of the chamber, now filled completely with water.
Marlo woke up with a splitting headache. She sat up and saw that she was in the meeting hall. Everyone was murmuring and moving around except Master and his closest accomplices. They were just watching her, never taking their eyes off of her.
"I see you finally decided to wake up," Master said in his scratchy voice," Admittedly, you were never meant to be knocked out but it was the only way to get you here."
Marlo said nothing. She scanned the panel of people that was standing closest to Master. Jake, Mr. Peor, Mrs. Bomsky, she recognized most of the people there.
