A Prisoner Of War

Chapter Five : The Calling and the Trackers

I sit, slouched, on the floor of the cell, my head in between my folded knees. The typical figure of hopelessness. The gray shirt I'm wearing, worn by all the prison inmates, crinkles and leaves deep impressions against my skin. But I don't care. I feel like I've lost hope. Alex's plan is so wild, so unbelievable, that I don't know if I can carry it out. Alex, as usual, paces about the cell. The small, constricting room makes me feel claustrophobic. Prudence sits, legs crossed - pale, calm, and fiddling  with her fingers. Her wide, watery blue eyes make her look alike a perpetual deer-in-the-headlights; a frightened young fawn.

We have been called to the Main Hall of the prison, a place where all the inmates usually gather. Sometimes the General decides to hold executions there - and make us watch. Or so I've heard, from our only source of jail information- Alex. She's told us to prepare for the worst. The Callings are seldom, but when they happen, it's not good news.

We have fifteen minutes until the soldiers come to collect us. All the inmates will gather in the huge hall, where the General might address us. Or worse. According to Alex, the last time a Calling happened, it was to witness the torturing of a prisoner. They kept the prisoner in a glass box on an elevated platform, and emitted high-frequency sound waves inside the cage, box, whatever you can call it. Apparently, the victim writhed, twisted and screamed inside the soundproof cage in vain.

And they were forced to watch.

I don't know what to expect.

Torture? A death sentence? An address? 

God knows what we're in for.

~

The door slides open and five soldiers march in, shoving us out . We are surrounded by soldiers, and led out of the cell. There is the same pristine white corridor with soldiers stationed at intervals, glaring at her every now and then. From several other corridors, similarly escorted recruits and prisoners flood in, moving in a single, grey-and-black mass through the long, wide white corridor. 

Soon, we come to a large metal door, which has been thrown open. The soldiers stay outside, while we are pushed in. I find myself in a large hall, if it can be called a hall. Soldiers line the inner walls, to prevent any escape. An elevated podium is against the wall, and the flag of the Offence serves as the backdrop- A golden eagle against two crossed swords, surrounded by a laurel wreath and six stars at the bottom. It seems to say, Try to fly outta here, buddy, and you'll find yourself impaled on a sword.

The number of inmates is overwhelming. We are all shuffling quietly, shoulder to shoulder, and the hawk-like eyes of the soldiers are scrutinizing us. The moment the last inmate is inside, the doors close with a thud. Several heads snap back, but others remain grim and resigned, this being an ordeal they might have had to go through before. Prudence's lower lip trembles, and I'm afraid she's going to cry. I don't know what'll happen if Prudence starts crying in the middle of the General's address. A corner of my lips quirks up as I imagine the situation, but my almost-smile quickly falters as I imagine the outcome.

Alex is on the other side of me, expression fierce, determined, as always, and her eyes are focused ahead, like she'd fixed her eyes on something she loathed and was going to stomp over and crush it like a mosquito.

 We pass through a scanner, which checks whether we have any dangerous objects. The government is taking no chances.

The scanning goes on smoothly, and we hurriedly align ourselves in neat rows. Amid the scuffle, I lose Alex and Prudence, finding myself somewhere near the front. In a state of slight panic, I glance around me. On my left stands an oldish man with really overgrown hair and a beard, kind of like the guy from Robinson Crusoe. On my right stands a black-haired kid around my age. He's fidgeting a lot. 

Can't blame him.

Suddenly, the soldiers click to attention. A sudden hushed silence falls in the hall. A rather tall, weathered man steps onto the podium.

"Inmates of the High Security hostage prison, you have been assembled here today for a few announcements. As you all know, this prison was constructed keeping in mind your captivity. Earlier today, an inmate from the main cell in the north side attempted to break out. He was shot dead instantly."

The boy on my right flinches sharply.

The General continues.

"Thus, any attempt to break out of the prison will result in immediate death of the guilty."

This reminds me of the the crazy plot Alex and I have conjured. It would most likely get us killed, and then we'd be nowhere. We wouldn't be able to stop the (maybe) attack that will be launched against the Defence.

My attention shifts to the man on my left, who is still and resigned, and then to the kid on my right, who is fidgeting continuously. He's going to get us killed. It is at this time that I realise that the general has been talking all the while.

"-and it is for this reason that we have decided to inject trackers in your bloodstream. In this way, any attempt made to escape will be tracked immediately and the necessary actions taken. That is to say, the escapee  will be shot immediately , along with any and all concerned. All prisoners, proceed to Hall E - 5 for the injection."

And that, my friends, is the last thing I hear before the sound of a  gunshot rings through the hall.

_____

End of Chapter Five.

Ooh, a cliffhanger! Who knows what happens next? (I do, of course.) Wait till you see what happens in the next chapter! By the way, who do you think was shot, if at all? 

So, bear with the cliffhanger and the agony that comes with it! 

(I feel so evil. *Insert evil laugh* MWAHAHAHA!)

This chapter is dedicated to @ZenithKnight268 for listening to all my rants! Also, you guys, vote, comment, follow, and add this story to your reading lists!

Peace out, folks.

~T.J.