Ticket to the Abyss and back

The New Guard

****Notes at the bottom***

It didn't take long until the sound of the morning patrol guards reached Varians ears.
But it wasn't the usual heavy footsteps that he was used to, this one seemed to be lighter on it's feet.

The rattling of keys made Rudiger react, his ears stood up, soon it ws followed by the clicking of the lock and the creaking of the door opening.
A little faint gust of fresh air came into the room.
Varian looked at the guard, it was a new one, he hadn't had the "pleasure" of having this guard visiting him before. He was tall but not so well built, Varian sneered, how'd he pass the Captains infamously harsh tests was something that struck him as impossible.

He walked into the little cell with the small flickering lantern and placed it on a hook on the wall as instructed.

- Morning Kid.

The guard said with a bit to much glee.

- I'll get you your breakfast  in a second, oh and I snuck in something extra for you.

He winked at the boy.
It took a while before Varian understood that the guard had in fact been talking to him. Noone had done that since he had been locked up, except for the Kings visit.
He had been left alone with his his own thoughts, not that it was much different from when he had been at home but at least then...then there had always been someone if he needed to.
The very thought made a tug at his heart.

The door opened again and the young guard came back.

- Here ya' go kiddo. A nice breakfast that'll fill you up for the day....The cookie is from me. He whispererd and winked again.

At first Varian just stared at the plate that the guard was holding in front of him.
There was in fact a cookie.

Why? Why would it have to be a cookie of all things,?

His mind wandered to the time of which when he had offered a cookie to one of the royal guards, a cookie laced with a truthserum.
Varian looked away, he didn't want to look at it, didn't want to think about it.

- Come on, kid. I can't stand with this here all day, and besides, I need to fetch the racoons ration too.
His voice wasn't irritated or even annoyed, it was only...friendly.

Varian slowly took the plate, he looked up at the guards face from underneath his long black bangs. He was a pale one, he had lots of freckles, like Varians but more prominent and there were much more of them ,like someone had splattered a paintbrush with orange color all over his face, he didn't wear a helmet, his hair was cut short and it had was very... orange. He had kind eyes, but he knew all to well to not trust anyones eyes.
Varian knew that he should at least say thank you, but he couldn't bring himself to do it. He watched as the guard stepped outside to get... what was it he had said? The racoons...Rudigers, food. His own food. Up until this day they had only shared the food that Varian was given. This guard was so strange.
The boy on the bench sat still on his place as he noticed that this new guard had left the door open while going outside , even if it was just a few steps away thet was very bold of him.

Varian could... he had a chance to escape.
His mind went wild, his heart started to race, blood pumping,  he could just walk right out, knock the helmetless guard down, take his keys and disappear!

But... he didn't.
He just stayed in his place.
The guard came back with a bowl of fruit and some other leftover scraps of food.
He put it on the floor and Rudiger came running to him immediately.

- Here you go, you...you little critter.

The guard was down on one knee, petting Rudiger, so voulnerable, door still open. Varians eyes went from the guard to the door, to the keys.... he could.... if he really wanted to he could....
"Wait... is he....are they... testing me?"