Prison Bound

Scarred meeting

Deep within the tunnels of the Dark Eagle prison.

POV: Mikhael

"He should be here."I say trying to hide my frustration. I pace the tunnel that Gabe and I are in. It's one of the many narrow tunnels that run under the prison and the one across from us is where our contact is suppose to have arrived 30 minutes ago, carrying a package and a direct message from Glass. Gabe and I knew our way through the prison and tunnels. But where Glass was getting his messenger through was beyond Gabe and myself. This was our third meet and each time the small Asian man would remind us if we were to follow or that anything should happen to him. Glass would cancel the transaction of our deal to freedom. And every time after the man left, Gabe and I would spend hours looking for the secret way out. But to no avail, nothing came from our diligence in looking for the small mans exit. "You think something happened to prevent the meet tonight?" Asked Gabe standing silently at the front of the entrance to the tunnel. "It is possible, nothing we should have to start worrying about till the next fight."He says with a slight shrug. I grind my teeth and lean against the wall farther down. Pacing won't help and neither will the desire in wanting to deck my friend for being right. Glass's message had said if the meet didn't happen tonight a message would come with the next fight. How the man got away with what he did and his knowledge of the internal affairs of the prison and ability to provide access to the little Asian mans appearing and disappearing acts within one of the worlds toughest prison walls was genius. "The Glass man is a damn nuisance." I grumble. My complaints just bring an irritating deep chuckle from Gabes direction. "You know..." I start and then immediately look to the far end of the main tunnel. "Someones coming?" I say coming closer. "He's coming from the wrong way." Gabe states before falling deeper into shadows our tunnel provided. The man is taller and walks with a limp that is barely noticed. I smile to myself bitterly, what are they just going to start strolling in and out. This wasn't a normal walk in the park, one couldn't just come and go when they pleased unless they had resources and damn me if I wasn't going to them. I hear something hit the sewer water farther down the tunnel towards the end that comes from the main living quarters of the prisoners. Gabe tilts his head and I acknowledge him with a nod. Someone else is coming, we can hear their footsteps echo off the main walls. And then the beginning of a light appears, reflecting off the moist walls and water. Finally his silhouette appears and I recognize him instantly, Ryback. I feel Gabe glance my way but I don't take my eyes off of the guards back. I feel the the intense ticking coming from my jaw and I feel myself slowly leaning forward. Gabe jerks me back instantly and gives me one of his steel looks to remind me of where we are. I don't like being told what to do and Gabe is no exception. I jerk my arm back and try to listen to what the two men are now saying. At first I don't hear anything, so I lean closer hugging the wall. "Mr. Stone wants you to relay information to one of your inmates." The newcomer starts. "I don't make it a habit of delivering messages to men who are suppose to be dead." Snaps Ryback. "And I have no intention of starting now. So other than that, what the fucking hell am I doing in these shit infested sewers?" Demanded Ryback. The newcomer didn't appear to be fazed by Rybacks behavior or crude features. In fact Ryback was an ugly bastard that not only belonged but looked right at home in the sewer tunnels. "You will deliver Mr. Stones message if you value your life Mr.James." The newcomer replied calmly with his unwavering black eyes. The threat of death could be felt from the gravely voice as if he was ready to perform the act now. Ryback stared hard at the large man. "What is the message?" He finally asked. "His name is Mikhael Stryker." I watch Rybacks head jerk at my name and I see Gabe tense in the corner of my eye. But I refuse to take my eyes off the newcomer, he knows me and whatever he has to say I want to hear it from him. "I know of him. What is the message?" Ryback asks unpleasantly. "The Virginia's Governor's daughter was found dead 6 months ago." The newcomers voice fades and I try to grasp reality. "It can't be." I whisper. Gabe looks at me with a rare look of concern from the shadows. But I can't stop the trembling that has taken over my body, I feel like I'm going to be sick. Please Father in heaven. "No." I exhale looking across the tunnel to the two shadows conversing. Willing them to be wrong, not her. Dear Father not her, not Grace. I silently pray listening to the two men. "It has caused not only an outcry for justice from her family but also from the people of Virginia. Governor Hallmen was sworn into office two weeks after his daughters disappearance hoping it would put pressure on the attackers but it was a futile attempt."The newcomer states. My body can't take it anymore and I find myself collapsed on my knees. "Grace." I whisper. I realize its at this moment when most would sob and cry, but its been years since I have and I am unable of shedding any tears. And it feels wrong, my heart feels as if it has been torn from my chest and set on fire mercilessly. I feel Gabes unspoken questions but he says nothing and keeps a steady eye on the two shadow figures. "Now the Governors political career is in trouble and Mr. Stone believes that can be rectified with the closure of finding the ones responsible of Grace Hallmen's death. Mr. Stone has knowledge and detailed information regarding Mr. Stryker's past. And with that information he believes that Mr. Stryker can assist Mr. Stone with his slight problem of finding the young woman's killers." The newcomer pauses for a moment making sure the sly guard understood. "And will he be returned back to Dark Eagle once his job?" Smirked Ryback. "Or mission you might call it, is done?" The newcomer looks bored and returns the guards smirk. "What happens and what is agreed upon by Mr. Stone and Mr. Stryker." He paueses. "Is entirely up to them." Ryback doesn't look pleased with that answer at all and is about to reply when he is cut off. "Mr. Stone will expect an answer within 48 hours. If he doesn't receive a response he will assume that you failed to deliver his message, I suggest that you make sure Mr. Stryker replies." The newcomer stands there silently waiting. For what I'm not sure, until I see Ryback nod his head begrudgingly and walk back towards the prisoners quarters. My body has stopped its trembling but I am still on the ground. My senses have returned and I slowly rise making sure not to catch the newcomers attention. Gabe looks at me but I ignore him. I feel a deep hatred course through my veins for the newcomer and an anger so strong it terrifies me. But I push the the doubts back and embrace the monster that is surfacing. My sisters death will be avenged and her murderers will pay the price with their own lives, if not more. I look over at Gabe and nod for him to follow. I wait for the newcomer to head in the opposite direction of where Ryback came from before we start to follow him. There was something slightly familiar about the newcomer or maybe not. Perhaps it was just the memories of Grace and my past life that was clouding my judgment. It had been many years since I had first came to Dark Eagle Prison, so the possibility of it being someone from my past was slim. But as to where this man was going was of the up most importance, find his exit point and then interrogate. His cooperation would determine the outcome of his own lifespan. Gabe and I had been tailing him for a couple minutes now and were nearing one of the dead end tunnels when we heard the click of a gun. "Easy boys." The gruff voice said with a heavy warning. "There's no reason for anyone to die here tonight." I heard Gabe utter an oath but for me everything else stood still. Time had been frozen yet again, I knew that voice... "Peters?" I asked in disbelief. It couldn't be, I was going to torture and maybe kill this man. Why would Peters be here? He didn't know I was here, no one did. It had been over ten years since I had seen anyone from my past life, especially anyone close to my family. But hell it sounded like him and I couldn't see his face due to the fact that Gabe and myself had our backs turned to the newcomer and neither one of us wanted to get shot. Not when we were this damn close to freedom. "Mikhael?" I barely heard the newcomers gravelly question. "Is it really you boy? He asked. "It might be old man if you get that piece off my back." I replied dropping my hands and slowly turning around. It was Peters, an older version of him at least, he had grey at the temples of his dark hair and slight wrinkles at the corners of his eyes but he was still built like a boulder. "Who's he?" He nods towards Gabe. "A friend." I see the doubt in Peters eyes. "You can trust him." Peters nods and puts the Colt back in its holster, then walks towards me and I am embraced with a massive hug that feels like it's coming from a bear. "Its good to see you again boy." He said slapping me on the shoulders. We thought you were dead, your Mama will be glad when she see's you." He smiled mournfully. "I suppose you heard back there." He lowers his head with a heavy sigh. "That why you followed me?" I nod, not able to find my voice. "Come on lets get out of these sewers and find a place to sit." Peters was always full of surprises but when he led me and Gabe farther down the tunnel that we had been following him in. He made a sharp left and when it appeared that there was nowhere left to go. He knelt down and pushed what looked like a small boulder. When it moved sideways you could see a small man size tunnel. "Come on." Peters said before disappearing inside the hole. "Well?" I ask Gabe. "You sure you can trust him?" He asks. "Gabe, you can trust the old bastard, that man is a dying breed and an old friend, trust him." Gabe nods. "Alright then, lets go." I get down and tunnel through a hole that is much way to small for my large frame but when I make it out to the other end. I can see the sunset reflecting off the Black Sea and I can feel the water splashing up against the rocks onto my face. Freedom I thought. Now if we can only get off this damn island. It was a shear drop off from where I was standing, hell I didn't know if someone could even survive that kind of jump and if they did, how would they miss the rocks? "That's a hell of a drop." Gabe said standing up. "Whats up with the youth of today?" Peter smirked. "You damn fools aren't going to jump that. You'd kill yourselves for sure!" He snickered. "The next fight is in 12 days, that's when you leave. You'll soon be having yourselves a boat ride off this bitch boys." He nodded and walked over to the edge and shook his head. "Yep! You always did do things the difficult way Mikhael." He smiled and started walking away. "Come on camps this way." And so I followed Peters along the steep edge just like I did as a boy when he took Grace and I on our first rock climbing adventure in the Rockies. Peters was known for having an Ace up his sleeve no matter what the problem and I knew he had one into finding my sisters killer... I just needed to get my hands on one as well.