The Heat of Fire

Chapter 10

I can't pace, so I calm myself down by breathing in and out slowly, and counting the seconds as they go by. I sit on a sturdy mattress that's on the concrete ground, in a small rectangular room, with bars surrounding it. The classic jail cell. But there is one difference. There is a large window, taking up a whole wall that shows the inner city.

I think back to only an hour ago, when the helicopters had come. People in gray had dropped from them, and brought us into the helicopter. On the way up though, my leg had been more damaged. I could barely hobble around without it hurting.

I look out the dirty window, seeing shells of buildings, their windows broken, dust covering them, panels missing. Briefly, I wonder what the city looked like before the Fires came.

But my mind mostly lingers on other things. Who are these people? Why was there the fence? Why did they arrest us? Where are the others? When can I speak with someone? A million possibilities come to me.

I lean against the wall, and, realizing I haven't taken a look at my leg yet, decide to roll up the legging. I am immediately met by pain, as my eyes are met with a gruesome sight.

The side of my calf is covered in purple and yellowish/brown bruises. When my leggings are rolled up to my mid thigh, I see the bruises continuing up. Around my upper hip, there are more bruises, but these are more intense. There are even more bruises on my foot, and it almost looks like it's bending the wrong way.

How did I even injure it? Last I remember was the smoke coming from my hands...

I don't know what to do. If I had ice or something, I could try numbing my leg. But I'm stuck in this cell. I decide to let it breathe, and roll it down to the knee, and slump against the wall once again. Somehow, I guess in boredom, I fall asleep.

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I awake to the sound of a metal door clanging open. A young woman, dressed in a gray T-shirt and gray jeans marches in. Her dull brown hair is pinned up in a neat bun, and she wears sun glasses. I immediately notice the gun and knife she carries on her belt, as well as a flashlight and a water bottle. Water. I'm so thirsty right now.

"Get up prisoner." She says in a voice as boring as her looks.

I look up at her and say in a casual voice, "Um, excuse me? I'm not sure I know who you're talking to. You see, I'm usually called-"

"You Are prisoner. Now get up before I make you."

"Jeez, you're already technically making me verbally..." I mumble under my breath, annoyed.

We walk out of the cell, into a long gray hallway with other cells. Except, I can't walk. It's more like she's holding my elbow to her side, and I'm trying to waddle along, but am basically being dragged along.

"So... uh... you know where we're going?" I inquire. I get no response. I sigh, and hear a shout.

"Naomi?! Naomi!" I squint ahead, and see Neil peeking out of the door.

"Neil! Where are the others?" I shout back at him, suddenly moving a lot faster. They're right here! I suddenly see Noelle and Dante appear at the door. I completely forget about the woman, and my injury, and try to run to them. But she has a strong grip on my arm, and I am pulled back.

I bite back a shout of frustration, and resume limping along. When we come near the cell, I see that everyone is in there together. Except me. Why did they keep me separate?

"Are you guys ok?" I demand quickly as we pass by.

"Us? We're fine!" Noelle says, seeming surprised. "What about you? You're leg looks really painful." Her voice trembles.

I realize my leg is still exposed, since I never rolled the legging down. Shoot. Now they can see an obvious weakness (as if the limping didn't give it away).

But now we're passing the cell, and I half turn my body.

"I'll try to get us out of this! Everyone!" I say, desperately calling to my friends. I see Noelle nod, before they are out of my sight. I choke back tears and face forwards, at the guard.

"Ok, ya wanna tell me where the heckity Heck Tate we're going lady?" I spit at her.

"You are going to see the leader. There, they will decide." She says robotically, keeping her eyes ahead of her.

"Decide what? Who's the leader? Are you a robot? What's going on?!" I sputter.

"I am a human. Not a robot." She replies, just as mechanically.

"That's what a robot would say," I mutter angrily under my breath. "By any chance, is there a watch I can have? It's getting hard to count the time by seconds." I say, looking on the walls for a clock.

I get no response. I sigh, and think of what time it should be. After walking down a few more gray hallways that are the same, we reach a thick black door. There's a scanner on the wall besides it, and 3 security cameras positioned on the ceiling.

As we approach the door, the woman whips out a card and swipes it against the door. The door slides open easily, and I am pushed into a large room. Despite its size, the room is cluttered with computers, papers, and people. At the center of the room, there is a huge table, with people sitting around it.

At the center of the table, a man in a sharp (literally, the edges of the shoulders looked really pointy) black suit, with black boots looks at me. He has the largest mustache I've ever seen! It's black, and and extends across his cheeks. I'm a little startled by it, so I backup and say, "Dude, what's with the mustache?" In an alarmed tone.

His head swivels around, his thick eyebrows raised in outrage. He walks crisply over to me, hands behind his back.

"Rude, I see. Manners obviously aren't something for you." He says in a loud ringing voice.

"Who are you?" I stammer, having a thousand different questions in my mind.

"Ah, see, no manners. Absolutely none!" He repeats.

"I am sir Jacques the third. The leader of this rebellion." He says proudly.

"But...but what is the rebellion!" I say, exasperated. His smirk falters.

"You... you haven't heard of the Jacques rebellion? It's been a battle for the past 5 years. But I think I know how it can end."

"What are you rebelling against?" I ask, confused.

"The government of course! They took over all of the water in the city. It's mainly a battle for water." Jacques says confidently.

"Well that's stupid. Everyone needs water. Why can't you all just share?" I mutter, internally facepalming.

"Life is a battle Naomi. It's made up of winners and losers, and we are the winners." Jacques says bossily.

"How do you know my name?" I exclaim, quite shocked.

"That's not important. What's important is how you are going to end the battle. How you will make us win."