Once Upon a Slave...

Chapter 9

Ezra's P.O.V

   I woke up and grumpily walked over to my meal. I stayed up a little to late with Hera last night and I was a bit sleepy still. I figured I would get over it later though. I looked up to see Hera starting to stir in her sleep. I saw her sit up and yawning and stretching. "Morning," she said and went to eat her meal.

   I waved hi and kept eating until the plate was empty. I drank the rest of my water and wondered what was going to happen to Hera today. Those guards snickers always creep me out and that's when you know that something is going to happen, something bad. Out of all the people, she was my only friend.

   She was also a dancer and dancers here usually don't last very long. I'm surprised that Hera even survived as long as she did here with all the beatings. Hera was strong, there was no doubt about it. We communicated for a while until the buzzards went off and I waved goodbye then went to work.

After a long day of work, I went back to my cell and ate my food while waiting for Hera's return. I finished my meal and set it aside and pulled my legs up to my chest as I waited for my friend. Time passed and Hera has yet to return, I was getting really worried. What was going on? Was she getting beaten? Did someone see me sneak the minerals into her cell? Was she dead?

My blood ran cold at the last thought of seeing Hera lay still in the ground. No, she isn't dead Bridger! She just isn't here yet, don't get out of control. My eyes started to get droopy and I decided to get some sleep. I crawled to my bed of pillows and looked up one more time just in case. Nothing, so I laid down and fell asleep immediately.

   I was awaken by footsteps coming down the hall. I rubbed my eyes and pretended to sleep. I watched two guards return Hera back to her cell. She looked traumatized and kept hugging herself. What did they do to her? When the guards left, I sat up and got a better look at Hera. She was sitting in a fetal position on the floor rocking back and forth crying. I waved to my friend but she didn't respond to any of my motions.

   That strong and brave woman had just changed into a vulnerable and scared girl. I never seen her like this and it scared me. Seeing someone tough being transformed into their weak side in less than a day just shows how much more horrible this place was.

   I wanted to comfort her and tell her everything was going to be ok but I couldn't. One, I'm in a cell and two, I'm silent. Well, I'm not mute but I had forgotten how to talk or find my voice. I could make sounds often but that was basically it.

I kept my eye on Hera to see if she would do anything but just sat there. I sighed and went back to bed with guilt of not knowing how to help. I laid down and found sleep, I'm going to need all the rest that I need so I'm not tired again. Yet the worry didn't go away.

   The next time I woke up it was morning. I rubbed the sleep from my eyes and looked over at Hera's cell. I saw her in the same spot but instead sleeping on the cold floor. I raised an eyebrow and crawled over to my meal. I ate but to busy thinking on what happened to Hera yesterday when she came back. I heard a moan and looked up to see Hera blinking her eyes to focus them.

She sat up rubbing her eyes and looked around. "Good morning, Ezra," Hera said fake smiling. I knew from that smile that she wasn't ok but I returned the gesture and waved. "How did you sleep last night?" She asked avoiding my knowing look. I shrugged and kept eating. "You woke up again," she said, "Did you have a nightmare?" I shook my head no then pointed at you.

   "Oh," she said, "When the guards were bringing me back to the cell last night." I nodded my head yes and my expression changed into a worried look. "I'm sorry if I woke you up," she said. I pointed at her then mimicked my fingers to look like tears running down my face. "You saw me crying?" She asked and I nodded. "Are you asking me what happened?" She asked and I nodded.

   She bit her lip and said, "I don't really want to talk about it." She curled up in the fetal position and looked away from me. I pushed my stuff aside and wanted to reassure her that she didn't have to tell me but I'm not a very talkative person as you can tell. The cell doors opened and I walked out of my cell to go work. I kept my eye on Hera until I couldn't see her anymore.

   I wish I could help but then I would get into trouble and I don't need new whip marks on me. I started to push crates with one thought on my mind. 'What's wrong with Hera?'

   A week has gone by and Hera has been very ill lately. She was always tired and sore from working. Hera barely touched her food but if she did try to eat it, she would get sick all over. Did they drug Hera with to many different alcoholics? Our master had a little lab where he would use us to test his new serum of something. We didn't know what the symptoms would be but it was never good.

   Maybe master was making a fear serum and that's why Hera came back to the cell trembling and crying. Then probably tested other drugs which is making her sick now. For all I know, Hera could die from the overdose or usage of the drugs. That is what made me so worried for the past week but hasn't shown any signs of it yet.

   I just hope she is ok and doesn't get any worse.

////////////////////////////////////////////

Stay tuned and adios!!!!!😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁