The Library

The Hall of Cells

As she ran for the exit, Allina's body roared with agony. It was as if she was experiencing growing pains, but fast and all at once. That's it! she thought, I'm becoming human again.

Her skin stretched and ripped. Her mouse's snout warped back into a human face; claws shrunk into stubby fingers and toes. Allina's front legs came off the ground as her back legs grew. The brown fur on her head turned to black hair. One thing, however, didn't change: her tail refused to recede back into her body. Rather, it grew to fit her human proportions.

The crowd drew back in shock, but only for a moment. Once she reached the exit, they were upon her again.

She stood in the middle of the circular room, unsure of where to go. Allina looked at the symbols carved above each entrance: a house, two crossed swords, a wheat stalk, the coat of arms, a beaker, prison bars.

Allina ran toward the archway with the image of prison bars carved above. It led to a narrow, winding hallway; she raced down it barefoot, praying the crowd wouldn't catch up.

At the end was another set of stairs. When she reached the bottom, Allina saw another long hallway. The hallway was full of prison cells; the whole level was rank, smelling of mildew and rot. Allina ran over the damp stone, wand pulsing in her hand. "Are you there?" she called out, not sure what to call Alejandra.

"Dear girl! Is that you?" Alejandra called from a cell at the far end of the hall.

Allina ran to her cell. The bars were made of cast iron too thick to wrap her hand around. She couldn't slip into the cell.

She looked in. Alejandra was hanging from the wall by her wrists, her dress in tatters. Her metal leg sat on the floor beside her. "Throw me my wand!"

Allina didn't have much of a throwing arm, but she didn't need it: the wand, drawn to Alejandra's magic, nearly leapt out of her hand toward its true owner.

It sailed through the air and landed perfectly in Alejandra's right hand. She muttered a few words, then slipped out of the chains. She reattached her prosthetic metal leg, which had been lying on the ground.

The first of the mob came down the dungeon steps. Allina kicked at the bars, looking around for anything that might help her break open the cell. The mob drew closer; Alejandra limped to the bars. She muttered something to herself, and began collecting items. A lock of her own hair, a bit of grime from one wall, a fly buzzing on the floor.

"What should I do?"

Not looking up, Alejandra replied, "Say this." She then rattled off some gibberish that sounded vaguely like Latin.

Allina repeated it as best she could.

"Good, little Allina, now your family name."

"Bouboulina," she said.

"Now this," said Alejandra, and rattled off more gibberish.

Allina repeated it, even as the mob drew closer.

"Your name." Try as she might to keep her voice steady, Alejandra's voice shook.

"Allina." A strange feeling overcame her. Allina felt as if she was made of not flesh, but of metal. She felt invincible.

"Now," said Alejandra, newfound hope glittering in her eyes, "you must fight, dear girl." Then she turned to the back of the cell with the items in her hands, and Allina was left to fend off the mob.