Reckoning

Chapter Thirteen: Nightfall

As I try to get some rest while sitting against a brick wall, I start thinking.

Thinking about Grace, and if she made it to Haven. Thinking about Lisbeth and if she feels sorry for bringing Nathaniel right to our front door. Thinking about some of my friends back at Haven. Anna, Matt, Thomas, and the other people I was with before.

Theo snores on the single bed inside the cell. Matt and Cody are sleeping on the dirt floor, not minding what they sleep on.

I tried to sleep a little while ago, but I couldn't. Besides, I need to keep my energy up for the escape.

Diana stands outside the cell door. She switched shifts with Eli maybe four hours ago. I have no idea what time it is, maybe like 3 or 4 am. I yawn quietly in the dark and bury my head in the sleeves of my hoodie, the moonlight shining through the metal bars above the bed.

I then hear footsteps coming down the hall.

That must be Eli.

I hear Diana ask someone, "What are you doing here? Your shift doesn't start for two hours."

Eli tells her, "I need the keys. Nathaniel told me to empty the bucket if they took a shit."

I hear the sound of keys, then Eli says, "Sorry about this."
Diana asks, "Sorry about wha-"
I am jolted awake by the loud noise of Eli grabbing Diana and slamming her head on the metal door.

Theo jumps out of his slumber and exclaims, "Bloody hell!"

Matt and Cody are also awoken by the commotion and I climb to my feet. Eli unlocks the cell door and opens it.
"Let's go", Eli tells us, his sword holstered.

We quickly step out of the cell, and Cody asks Eli, "What the hell did you do to her?"
Diana lay sprawled on the floor, face down.
"She's just unconscious. Don't worry", Eli tells us.

Theo picks up the shotgun Diana had and says, "We need more weapons."

"Yeah, and just as a matter of fact I got your guns back", Eli announces, digging into a bag he hung around his neck. He hands me my pistol and switchblade, then hands Matt and Cody their weapons as well.

"Let's do this", I say.

Eli nods and quietly leads us back the way he came, which is the back entrance to the small prison.

We come to a wooden door, and Eli pushes it open. He peaks around the corner, then gives us a hand signal.

Outside, we seek cover behind a wall that is just a few feet away from the door. To our shock, a light shines through the dark of the night, and as it gets closer we can see one of Nathaniel's men holding a torch.

"Shit", Eli whispers before stepping out from our cover and into the dark skinned man's path. "Jesus!", the bald man exclaims, "Eli, what the hell are you doing out here?! It's past curfew."

"Thought I heard something, could be the woman who slaughtered our men", Eli says to the man in a serious tone.

"Well, just be careful, man", the African-American man says to Eli.

As my friends and I kneel behind the wall out of sight, Cody clumsily becomes off balance and falls back onto the concrete.

"What was that?", the bald headed man exclaims.

Out of nowhere, Eli grabs the man's neck and twists it, a loud snapping sound ringing through the air.