Isolation

Chapter One: Hope

Walker stared dully at the blank wall with her legs pulled close to her chest and her chin resting on her knees. She had memorized every detail of the gray concrete. Every crack, stain, and hole. Sometimes she would connect them together and make images. Other times she would count every crack and hole over and over again. Little tedious tasks that would keep her mind busy when she could no longer sleep or was tired of pacing.

After centuries of that monotony, Walker was amazed she hadn't lost her mind. Sighing, Walker uncurled from her little ball and stretched her sore limbs. Her joints cracked from the movement, she stood up. The floor was cold under her bare feet. Twisting and turning her body, Walker worked her muscles out to prevent her body from becoming too stiff.

This had been her life for centuries. Confined to this dull bare cell with no windows, a small bed, and the yellow glow of the crackling forcefield.

Jasper did occasionally allow her out. However, those weren't improvements that made her situation any better.  Different cell, different jailer, still a prisoner.

Walker couldn't even remember what true freedom felt like. It was nothing, but a faint memory. Not even a memory, a dream. But, she held onto hope.  Hope was all she had. Hope kept her going. It kept her sane. She would go home. She would return back to her family and friends. And the ocean. Eventually... eventually.

Walker stopped stretching for a moment. Her fingers brushed the tears away from her eyes before she resumed her exercise.

"I can give you a good stretch," a husky amused voice broke the silence of her cell as Walker bent over, reaching for her toes. She didn't bother to look up or address the suggestive comment, but rolled her eyes.

Jasper had a playful, sometimes flirtatious side, but Walker refused to humor her. These moods rarely lasted. Jasper was ruthless and savage. And Walker knew better.

The shield dropped with a soft crackle of electricity and the Titan nearly filled up the small room when she entered. Jasper was broad and muscular. She towered a few feet above Walker. Jasper was certainly intimidating even when she was in a good mood.

The mischievous smile on her lips sent chills down Walker. Her stomach dropped instinctively, but she didn't let her nervousness show.

"Would you like some air," Jasper asked.

Walker shrugged in response. The question was evidently rhetorical. Jasper never pulled her from her cell without a motive. A weapon, Walker came to realize. She was a living weapon. Though, every so often, Jasper would request Walker's presence when she wanted company.

Jasper gripped Walker's arm and roughly yanked her out of her room. She stumbled due to their height difference, Walker struggled to keep up with Jasper as she was dragged down the long, familiar corridor lined with empty halls.

"Is this for business or pleasure," Walker asked, staring at the empty rooms. She had no idea why there was so many cells or why they weren't filled. This was something she had always pondered each time she was taken from her cell.

Jasped snorted, flashing her strong white teeth. "Does it matter?"

No. It never did.

The screams always followed her afterward.  No matter what she did to drown them out, they filled her head and seeped into her dreams.  The sounds of rushing water mixed with terrified cries echoed in her mind.  Walker stared up at the dancing lights streaming from the stain glass windows onto the ceiling.  It made her feel like she was swimming underneath the ocean, staring up at the sun reflecting off the water.  Just like all those bodies floating in their watery tomb.

Walker closed her eyes when the thought flashed through her mind.  It was her or them, she reasoned with herself.  It was home or be killed.  And Walker would do anything to go home.  Why would she care about them anyway?  Her hands curled into fists on her lap. 

Those...  Those humans.  They were nothing but selfish and barbaric beings.  She felt contempt for them.  Why would she care?  Yet, she couldn't forget those screams no matter how hard she tried.

"Aren't you going to eat?" Jasper asked between bites, breaking Walker out of her thoughts.

Walker glanced at the plate in front of her.  It was piled with strange looking food in an assortment of colors.  A hearty aroma drifted toward Walker's nose.  Delicately, she picked up her fork, scooping up some steaming green vegetation into her mouth.  A buttery flavor filled her mouth.  It was actually quite delicious.  Eating dinner with Jasper had become a weekly ritual for Walker.  It was the only way she was able to keep track of how much time had passed.

Dinner was always a strangely friendly event.  They would sit, eat, and sometimes make idle chat.  They weren't captor and captive at this moment.  They could almost be mistakened for friends.  Or even significant others.  However, Walker always felt the fear lingering and tension around Jasper.  Even in her most relaxed state, Jasper was not someone to cross.  Walker had experienced that first hand. 

So, Walker ate, quietly.  If she was addressed, she made conversation.  This was how it had been for five thousand and two hundred awkward years. 

"It's good," Walker commented, taking another bite.  Jasper smiled, taking a swig of wine. 

"What were you thinking about?"

"Nothing."

"Don't lie," Jasper smirked.  This was a warning.

"Just about...  those humans."

"Dead humans now.  The best kind."

Walker didn't reply and poked at a piece of fish with her fork.  Her appetite had quickly vanished even though her stomach growled in protest.  She didn't hold the same animosity like Jasper has towards humans.  While Walker disliked them based on a disastrous experience that cost her freedom; Jasper absolutely loathed them.  Walker had never found out why, but she was never inclined to ask. 

Jasper did not press the issue any further.  She never did.  That was not dinner conversation and the issue was always quickly dropped or disregarded.

They ate the rest of the dinner in silence.  When it was time for Walker to return, Jasper unlocked the cuff around her ankle.  An extra security Jasper would say if Walker ever asked.  After all these years, Jasper did not trust her.  It wasn't like the idea hadn't crossed Walker's mind before.  Or that, in the beginning she had attempted to escape.  Her desire to go home and the fear of repercussion kept her tethered to Jasper.

Jasper was stronger and more powerful than her.  She was a Titan after all.  She had ruled a long time before Walker was ever born.  Walker was merely a nymph.  And a nymph against a Titan was laughable.  Jasper consistently reminded her of this too.  Every time she tossed Walker around like a ragdoll.  With every squeeze to her arms or neck, with every blow to her body, with every sickening sweet touch.  Walker was always reminded. 

Through it, Walker had remained faithful because she had hope.  Hope that with every abuse, she would come closer to home.  Hope that with every village she destroyed, she was closer to freedom.  She needed that hope to survive.  She clung to it like a security blanket.  It was all she had.

"Good night, Walks."  Jasper unceremoniously threw Walker onto her bed and left. 

Walker was thankful that Jasper didn't decide to linger.  Sometimes, whenever she was feeling frisky, Jasper would stay and fool around with Walker.  This happened more often when she was drunk.  Her large hands and lips would be all over Walker. 

She was relieved when Jasper didn't feel like mauling her. 

Tired, Walker curled up on her bed, shutting her eyes.  She was hoping to silently drift off to sleep. 

All she heard was screams.