In the Panther's Wake

Chapter 21

I wake up to the rumble of engines all around me, like I'm in the belly of a mechanical monster, my body flung side to side, bouncing up and down. I realise quickly that I must be in the back of a truck.

I open my eyes but I'm still in darkness, the hood tight on my head. I pull at my ties, trying to slip my hands or feet free, but the ropes are too tight. They burn my skin. I groan and tussle with the ropes some more, then a whisper shoots up from the darkness, "Bandi?"

It's Markus.

"Over here," I mutter, remaining quiet in case anyone else is around.

I roll towards his voice, hit something cold. I manage to swivel up onto my knees and spin so that I can feel what's blocking my path. Metal bars, a cage of some kind.

"I can't see anything," Markus says, "this damn hood."

"I think I'm in a cage," I tell him.

I can hear shuffling, Markus wriggling around. I hear him knock against something metal, followed by some rattling.

"Me too," he says.

We both sigh, and before we can say another word, the rumbling monster we're within goes silent. The engine clicks off.

I can hear voices outside, several, as well as gruff laughter. The doors creak as they're swung open. A cool wind hits me.

There's the rattling of keys and I shuffle back against the cage, as far from the doors as possible.

"Hello there young one," a low voice sniggers. "Awful long way from home aren't you?"

Strong arms grab me and I'm flung over the soldier's shoulder.

"Grab the other one. Take 'em to the carriages, with the others."

I listen to more jangling keys, then the sounds of Markus groaning and gasping as he's picked up.

The soldier carrying me starts to walk. There are voices all around me, fire's crackling; I can feel the warmth flutter over me in waves as we pass between them. We must be at a one of their big camps, and that's when it hits me. This is the worst thing that could have possibly happened. They have us now.

The soldier carrying me stops and calls to another, "Open it up, come on!"

I hear the unmistakable sound of a trigger being cocked back. My throat is sore and heavy, as if something sharp and bitter was stuck at the very back. I hear the sound of heavy doors being pulled open, then several terrified voices murmuring. The soldier pulls me off his shoulder and cold weak hands grab me and take me, many of them, all weak and clammy.

"Stand back you lot, you saw what happened this morning!"

The murmuring subsides and I'm placed down onto a wooden surface. I hear large doors slide closed and things turn darker still. Then the hands start groping at me again.

"Bandi, are you ok?" I hear Markus cry out.

"What's happening?"

I pull away from the hands, can feel them tugging at my wrist and ankle ties. I realise my legs are now free and try to stand but can't, surrounded by bodies, shapes I can't see, clawing at me. I picture them, savage creatures, dark withered forms, then I feel a tap on my left shoulder.

"It's Death, Markus! I..."

My eyes are tightly shut, waiting for the end. I curl up into a ball, listen as Markus struggles somewhere in the dark. I think of everything we've been through. It all cuts through my head, slicing like blades, each one more painful than the last. All of it for nothing. Nothing.