Dream Come True

13

MY breathing was ragged as I pressed my back flat against the grey wall. Xander's hand gripped mine as he peeked around the corner. Each turn was a new path leading us to the cells. He pulled me along, warming my frozen fingers. I bumped into Xander as he stopped suddenly and held his breath. Footsteps soon became audible as they stepped down the hallway. I froze, barely allowing myself to breathe at risk I might be heard as they stomped past. Finally the footsteps were nothing more than an echo.

"Come on. Quickly." He said in hushed whispers. He pulled me along taking each turn, becoming closer to our destination with each step. Finally we came to a stop. Xander slowly stepped inside, feet placing on the floor with care. With a quick look over my shoulder I followed him.

The deep stench of the damp cells reached my nose and I slapped my hand on my mouth, shuddering at the repugnant smell. "Who's there?" a small voice came from the back. I walked forward, one small step at a time. My eyes finally rested on a grimy face crouching in the darkness. Matted, oily hair covered the man's eyes. I took another step forward and the man pushed himself further into the wall like a scared rabbit and the hair fell back, revealing a disheveled shadow of none other than Peter Williams. I was repulsed by what I knew of him but drawn to him by pity. His eyes looked at me, fear and curiosity glazing over his sad eyes. Peter narrowed his eyes trying to focus over my shoulder. A look of faint recognition passed over him, confusion shadowing his face as he stared at Xander behind me.
"We're here to help you." I said unwavering determination showing on my face, pulling him from his thoughts.

Peter's eyes glistened with hesitant relief, wishing so much for us to be telling the truth. Xander wordlessly walked forward to the cell's barred door. He leaned in closer, examining the lock. Peter stared at him intensely taking in every detail as if trying to remember why he was so familiar. A smile ghosted on to Xander's face as he heard a click and his hands jerked, pulling the lock off. I smiled questioningly at him and he shrugged.
"Never know when you need to pick a lock." He said with a wink. He pulled open the cell door a loud creak echoing off every wall, and everyone stopped moving, listening intently for any sound of footsteps or voices.

Nothing.

Xander stepped into the cell and got to work on the chains that bound Peter's wrists. I heard Peter hiss every time the cold, jagged iron grazed his wrists. Finally the chains gently clanked to the floor and Peter massaged his arms.
"We have to go." Xander said, standing up.

We were all lined up against the walls, the cold piercing through our thin fabric shirts. We retraced each step and turn Xander had used just a while earlier. My heart pounded as I walked through the maze of hallways. Memories of Drey's angry face and I quickened my steps, anxiously looking over my shoulder and grabbing Xander's hand. We continued forward following the map and soon enough the walls looked familiar. A small beam of natural light reflected on the walls and I felt relief flood through me. I almost immediately tensed again as a shrill alarm shrieked through my ears. Xander cursed under his breath.

"Quickly, quickly! Go! Up the ladder!" He yelled, shoving Peter onto the rungs. I frantically pushed Peter faster as boots pounded the floor towards us. Two soldiers rounded the corner and I scrambled onto the ladders, fumbling in my hastiness. Xander lunged at one, bringing him to the floor with him in a tumble. I shrieked as I felt a hand grab my ankle in an iron grip.
"Grab my hand!" Peter yelled from above me, stretching his arm down. I clutched at his arm and kicked my feet as a desperate attempt to loosen the hold on my ankle. Peter strained to pull me up to the next level when Xander, having subdued his opponent for the time being, jumped on the soldier who had me, making him lose his grip. Peter yanked me up the rest of the way and Xander shoved the second man into the wall.
"Hurry Xander!" I yelled, reaching my arm out. The soldier rose to his feet and his partner roused as Xander jumped up the ladder, Peter and I tugging him upwards and out of the metal captivity and out into the cool night.