Veil of Shadows

Chapter 24. Hooded Savior

Silence was all Equinox knew.

Then he heard voices, and he snapped himself out of the little world he had created for himself. Even though the place was pitch black, Equinox could tell it was Shadow and Caken.

But another voice joined them.

Interest peaked by the possibility of a companion, he listened as the newcomer woke up, and had a short conversation with Shadow. The voice sounded female.

There was a sharp clanging sound, and he couldn't control his flinch. Mentally berating himself for showing a sign of surprise, Equinox waited until Shadow and Caken had left to speak with the girl.

And now, after half an hour, they were here. Neither of them spoke after their little exchange of information. The girl who introduced herself as Patch didn't seem to be in the talking mood.

What shocked him most was that Patch didn't seem too bothered by his abilities.

He supposed she would be used to it, since many members of the HS were hybrids and had powers. She must be truly great, to be a human and still have the skills needed to make it into the Hero Squad.

However, the way a person is born has no effect on their quality in life. It is the decisions they make, the side they fight for, how they deal with setbacks that give one quality.

Experience in martial arts didn't hurt though.

"Equinox, how long have you been in this place?" The girl named Patch asked suddenly. For a moment, Equinox paused. He had lost track after two years, and that had been when he was...what, eight?

He was twelve now - he assumed - so that would make a total amount of six years. Until now, he hadn't even thought about how long he had been in the prison.

"Six years." He replied, and Patch started a little at the number.

"So you've been trying to find a way to escape for six years?" She asked, a little incredulously. He simply shrugged, leaning back against the wall. It was a gesture of indifference.

"I stopped trying after four. Time goes by surprisingly fast down here. You can't tell day from night, and the only light source is artificial. Usually me," he said, adding the last part as an afterthought.

"But why are you down here? I mean, what could you have done to-"

"I'd prefer not to tell, if it's not too much trouble. It's an extremely personal matter." Equinox said quietly, hoping to steer Patch away from a dangerous subject for him.

Patch, thankfully, seemed to understand and let the matter drop.

For another long while, there was silence, punctuated by occasional scuffling outside the door caused by the rotation of the guards. Equinox could predict when they would rotate and who would be on duty.

However, there was a new guard on duty this time - his walking pattern was unfamiliar. Equinox's brow furrowed slightly. There hasn't been any new guards since his third year.

The scuffling suddenly increased, and was quickly put to an end by a sharp thudding sound.

Equinox paused in his thoughts. It didn't sound like the Captain of the Prison Guard disciplining the soldiers. That had sounded like a...skirmish, if you could call it that.

The door opened a bit, and Equinox quickly plunged the room into darkness, not about to let whoever it was have an unnecessary look at his abilities. Outlined against the door was an unfamiliar figure.

The figure was hooded, but didn't seem to have a cloak or uniform. Upon this discovery, Equinox was almost dumbfounded. This wasn't a soldier, he could be sure of that.

But who could manage to break into the most secure prison in Minecraftia?

"I'm looking for the colleague of a friend of mine. Patch, I think her name was. Anyone seen her?" The figure's voice was dull, almost monotone. Come to think of it, it was monotone.

Now, Equinox could make out a double sword sheath. So whoever this was could obviously handle weapons. A useful skill to have. The swords almost looked like katanas.

"Come on now, I don't have all day. I need to know the location of a Hero Squad apprentice named Patch."