Isolation

Chapter Five: Rescue

"What am I doing?" Robert mentally scolded himself for being impulsive as he made his way down the cold, empty halls with Walker. He held tightly onto the Water Witch's hand, guiding her through the maze of cells. "I am going to get myself killed," Robert thought. "What was I thinking?"

It was bad enough that he was in Jasper's home, but now he was kidnapping her Water Witch. And Walker was slow. Every once in awhile, Walker would inhale sharply, or her breathing became slightly shallow. However, Robert knew it was because she was in pain.

Robert occasionally glanced back at Walker and saw her lips tightly pursed with her eyes closed tightly. He felt a mixture of pity for Walker and annoyance at himself.

Abduct the injured water nymph. Great idea, Robert. He was an idiot. He could not dwell on his rash decision though. What was done was done. Walker was with him now. He couldn't let it interfere with his primary objective. Find Trenton.

Much to Robert's relief, Walker remained silent and allowed him to lead her. However, Robert wasn't quite sure where he was going.

No one had been inside of Jasper's castle before. This was uncharted territory, and it made Robert anxious. They were blindly running around in this labyrinth.

There were rows and rows of cells lining the cold, gray walls. Their feet echoed on the black ground. The shields were up and humming with electricity. However, no one else was imprisoned in them. Walker seemed to be the sole occupant on this floor.

Where are the other nymphs?

Why was Walker in isolation?

This struck Robert as peculiar. He always pictured the Water Witch living in luxury; surrounded by silk and servants and enjoying the devastation she caused with Jasper and the other nymphs. It was quite the opposite.

"Do you need to rest," Robert asked when Walker started to move slower. His tone was short and clipped.

"No." Walker replied, soft and quick.

They said nothing to each other as they rounded another corner.

Robert started to wonder what the others would think when they saw him with Walker. He would only have a short time to argue his case-- basically-- kidnapping the Water Witch. And it was not going to go over well. The others would not be receptive to Walker. Robert was certain of this. Actually, he was more than certain. He had no guarantee they would not attack Walker on sight. He would have to stop them too. Robert would have to make them understand why he did what he did. Even if he did not entirely understand himself.

"Why did I do this," he asked himself for the hundredth time.

They finally came to a flight of stairs; one leading up and the other down. Robert thankfully recognized them as the ones he had ascended earlier. Robert stood for a moment, contemplating where to go.

"Not up," Walker warned.

Robert turned to her. Walker was nervously biting her lip. Her hazel eyes were wide as she gazed up the stairs; her eyes fell back onto Robert. They stared at each other for a minute. Robert was trying to figure out if she was lying. He did not have time to dwell on it.

A loud crack of static made both of them jump. It was followed with a garbled voice. His communicator! Robert had forgotten it was on his wrist. He untangled his fingers from Walker's and pulled back his sleeve.

It was a makeshift device he had thrown together for this mission. Each of them had one just in case they got lost or captured.

Walker was looking at him with interest as he raised his arm to his mouth.