A Walk

Thin Ice

I peel my eyes open. Mouse hovers over me mumbling something. I stare blankly at him waiting for it to register with him that he needs to repeat himself. Clearing his throat he manages to spit it out again, "Miss...y-y-you're breakf-f-fast is r-r-ready." His eyes roam nervously as I continue to give him my deadpan stare.

My mind is sluggish. No food since the twins has really drained me especially with all the power strikes I had used. The thought of food gets it going and I drag my parched lips into a smile. At this Mouse makes a small choking noise and bends down to grab my arm. 

His fingers are delicate and shaking. While he fiddles with the needle and cord I look him over. He's short and stocky, his bald head glints in the light. Heavy eyebrows settle over a squinty eyes and a small pinched mouth. Built small, but powerful. Over and over he tells me, "N-now, you b-behave.  D-d-d-on't want n-n-no trouble..." I nod reassuringly and sigh in relief when the needle finally slips out and the weight starts to lift from my limbs. He sits me up with my back up against a tree. I eye the plate of eggs hungrily. Slowly, he slides the plate towards me, watching my every move.  I can smell them now. Eggs have never looked so appealing. I struggle to edge my hands toward it, but they're still too drugged to do much. A whimper of distress slips from my lips and Mouse searches my face looking concerned. 

"I could h-help you, m-m-maybe.." he says in a low voice, "Y-you look m-mighty hungry."

"Yes, please," my scratchy unused voice answers pathetically. I kick myself internally for not having a stronger willpower to not show my weakness.

Nodding he scoots closer and starts to shovel food in and I sit there and let him. Slowly but surely my strength returns and eventually I decide to  reach up and try to grab the spoon from him. He jumps at my movement and before I can register my mistake, has a knife pressed against my throat.

"I said no trouble," his voice is deadly the stutter and shake gone without a trace. I nod frantically and drop my hand. Adrenaline pumps through me as Mouse stares holes in my skull. My heart is attempting to pound out of my chest. After a few intense moments, he relaxes and the knife drops. More eggs are shoved down my throat until they've disappeared, without another word. My mind races as he lays me back and reinserts the drug silently and grimly. The delicate fingers becoming steely and pain inducing while the needle slides in and the drug flows eagerly through me again.  What was that? He almost killed me, just like that, over eggs. His chilling words sends a shiver through my body numbing it. Mouse might not be the right name, he's dangerous. These mercenaries are the real deal....I got to get out of here now. Got to get out of here, got to get out of here, got to get out of here.....The phrase coma consumes me and panic creeps up my throat. Clawing to break free.

Phoenix's scream cuts through my panic attack. Get your self in the right mind. Gods damn you and your selfish pity. Get you sorry ass up and moving and get us the hell out of here or I get to play.......at this rate you'll slip enough so that I can take over.

Another numbness settles over me at her words. She's right, panic won't help. It will only give her more control and we don't need that. I focus on bringing my heart rate down. I can see the wind moving through the leaves of the trees above me and put all my energy  into watching the calming motions. Finally, my mind ceases it's downward spiral and Phoenix's whispers and taunts fade into the background.

A plan, a good one. Something to get you up.

Can't take on all of them. Have to avoid Crayer. 

Find the weakest link. It's not Mouse. Too unpredictable too dangerous.

Someone else. How to find them though?

A tiny voice whispers an idea....Watch, listen, figure it out. 

And after that? The questions buzzes in my ears.

Weakest link first and we'll go from there. It's a start.

I nod as if to assure myself of the fragment of a plan. It will do. It has to. Struggling, I wiggle myself until my head hits the trunk of the tree. With a deep breath I dig my heels in the ground. The effort is tremendous and I can feel the drug doing its best to foil my plans. My face scrunched in determination I push against the ground with all I have. My head slides painfully an inch up the trunk. The bark is rough and leaves scratches, but I ignore the sting and prepare myself for another push. Again, I scream in my head and I dig my heels in for as long as I can stand the weight. Air hisses between my teeth as I inhale to disguise my outcry of pain. 

I did it. My head and shoulders rest against the tree. Just far enough so that I can see the camp. It's small and open. No tents, no cart. They've hidden the Welfens' cart or taken it somewhere. What has to be Snake sits on his mat. Humming and muttering in his hisses. Must be his watch. He is fiddling with a short sword. With a blade slightly longer than my forearm. His voice matches his frame. He's tall and lanky. I can't see his face in the glare of the sun, but I can wait. 

From this position I can see most of the camp. The perfect place to snoop. Hope flickers in my stomach, but in the back of my mind the dangerous position I'm in taunts me. Daring me to slip up and fall through the thin ice.