Caged In

Chapter 13

Chapter 13

          The door opened, and Blake’s eyes landed upon a roach scuttling across the floor. So this was what level three would be like. Walking across the room in handcuffs with the man following right behind him, he noticed Alyce asleep in their cage. He walked in and sat down as the man closed the cage door, which seemed too weird and wrong for it to be normal for anyone. But, it felt normal for Blake.

            As Blake sat down, he noticed a black widow on Alyce’s arm. He started freaking out, with so many thoughts going through his head. What if it already bit her? Would she die? Should he kill it? But then she might wake up. It’s worth it though, right? Blake finally slapped Alyce’s arm, killing the spider.

            Alyce’s head shot up, and her gaze turned towards Blake. “Wha-what was that for?” she asked, sounding sleepy.

            “There was a black widow on your arm. I didn’t want it to hurt you so I killed it.”

            “Oh,” Alyce said, rubbing her forehead. “That makes more sense.”

            “Sorry. I didn’t mean to wake you up.”

            “No, it’s fine. Thanks,” Alyce smiled.

            Blake smiled back. “No problem.” Blake’s eyes wandered around the room, spotting bugs everywhere. “Look, you should probably go back to sleep. I’ll make sure that no more bugs are after you,” he said.

Alyce laughed. “Alright.” She laid her head back down on the bottom of the cage. After about a minute, her head came back up. “I can’t sleep now, Blake. Bugs scare me!”

“Don’t worry. I’ll be your lookout,” he smiled. Then he leaned over and whispered in her ear. “Go to sleep, Alyce.”

“Thanks,” and soon Alyce was asleep.

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            The next few days, Blake and Alyce took turns taking guard against the insects. Skye and Slate had decided to take on that same concept, but one day, it didn’t work too well.

            Alyce woke up to high-pitched screaming right next to her. She turned to see Slate batting at a roach on his face. After it scuttled off into some other part of the room, he turned to Skye and yelled, “Let’s take turns guarding. It’ll be fun,” he said, mocking her in an overly dramatic falsetto voice. “What kind of guarding was that, Skye?”

            “I’m sorry! I-I didn’t see it,” she responded.

            “I can’t wait to get out of this room!” he yelled back.

            “I know. I’m really sorry, Slate.”

            He finally sighed. “Fine.” He turned back around to face the front of the cage. He felt something around his back and realized that Skye was hugging him. He laughed and turned back around to face Skye. “It’s fine. Let’s just forget it. ‘Kay?”

            “Okay,” Skye smiled.

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The next day, Alyce’s head darted up to see Blake still taking guard.

Blake noticed the familiar expression on Alyce’s face. “Something wrong?” he asked.

“I had a nightmare that Tessa was being chased by the man and he…killed her,” Alyce said with a disturbed expression.

“I’m sorry, Alyce. Just don’t think about it,” Blake said in a reassuring tone.

“Do you think she’s dead?” she asked, continuing to look at the floor.

“I don’t know. I try not to think about it.”

“I’m asking him,” Alyce said with confidence in her voice. She turned her head to face Blake.

“What?” he asked confused. “Asking who what?”

“I’m asking the man if she’s dead.”

“Alyce, I don’t think that’s such a great idea.”

“I don’t care!” she yelled back in his face. “She doesn’t deserve to be dead, and even if she isn’t dead, I’m sure she doesn’t belong to be where she is!” After she had finished, she filled her lungs with air again. Blake’s face looked hurt, and a feeling of regret hit her hard. “I’m sorry, Blake. I didn’t mean to yell.”

“It’s fine,” he sighed. “I know how it is. Just…be a lookout, okay? I’m going to sleep.”

“Okay.” But Alyce couldn’t help but feel that Blake was still upset. She felt torn away from him, disconnected. And it didn’t feel right at all.