The Zero Hour | #Wattys2016

Chapter 6 - Imprisoned (Part 1)

Amadeus felt groggy and light-headed when he regained consciousness. His mouth felt dry and he could both smell and taste metal. It probably didn't help that he was locked in a steel cage either. Once his vision started to clear, he looked around the room. The room was rather large, and its floor was made of cold gray stone, which was cold to the touch. Flaming torches hung out from the walls on all four sides of the room, illuminating the room in yellowish light and casting shadows in all directions. All manner of torture devices were scattered around the dimly lit room. Some had spikes, some had ropes, but they all had one thing in common - all of them were used to inflict great pain on people without bringing death quickly. Amadeus shuddered at the thought of having one of those devices used on him.

His cage was placed right in the middle of the room, and swayed gently as it hung from the ceiling amidst the clutter and dust. There were blood stains on the floor and walls which served as a silent memorial to the pain that had been inflicted in this room before he arrived. They made him feel queasy in his stomach. A row of prison cells with steel doors were built into on the side of the room.

Each prison cell was not equipped with any basic amenities aside from a wooden stool for prisoners to sit on. They did however, have a clear view of all the torturing that was going on in the room. All the cells were empty except for two which housed two white-haired individuals whom were unconscious – Rei and his daughter.

After Amadeus had surveyed the room, he came to the conclusion that he was in a prison of sorts; held captive by Waldo. He could hear sounds of laughing and eating outside - Waldo and his lackeys were celebrating. From the sounds of the merry-making, it would be some time before they would come to check up on us, he thought.

He held two of the cage's bars in his hands and pulled with all his might. He attempted to pry them apart to create an opening in the cage. He was somewhat hoping that he would suddenly be imbued with divine strength, only to find out that he was just as weak as he always was. He shook the cage's door in frustration but it did not budge and remained locked securely by a large and heavy padlock. Amadeus breathed heavily, trying to compose himself – was there no way to escape the cage?

The Lighvel suddenly glowed brightly with power instinctively, as though it was responding to his thoughts.

Are you trying to tell me something? He hesitated for a moment. The waves upon the Lighvel's surface were weak, and would probably be consumed entirely if he used it now.

Looks like I have no choice, here goes nothing. Seeing no other way, he reluctantly pressed the Lighvel against the cold metal padlock which kept the cage secure. The Lighvel sparked to life and the padlock almost instantaneously melted away from the door, as though it had been made of butter. The remains of the padlock fell to the ground with a clang. He then nudged the steel cage door lightly, which swung open with a creak. Amadeus dropped down from the cage as softly as he could and landed on the floor below. Without wasting any time, he made his way to what appeared to be the main door of the prison room.

For a moment, he toyed with the idea of escaping and leaving the two Exiles behind. Why did he risk his life to save me? No one ever did that for me before. How can I leave him now? Amadeus looked across the room at the two unconscious Exiles in the prison cells and another wave of guilt swept over him. Why did pain and misfortune always come to people around him? He felt like the fabled angel of death, whom brought about harm where ever he went.

I can't bring myself to do it. I just can't. He gripped his hands with resolve and determined in his heart to help the Exiles escape. No matter what the odds were, he would have to do it. After all, they would not have been captured if it were not for him. At the very least, he would fulfill Rei's wish to save his daughter.