Lean On Me (FF7)

35

~Denzel's POV~

It's been five days. Five days I've been feeling my stomach grumble and watching the walls. Five days my raw wrists haven't given up on trying to pull free. Five days of waiting. Five days of hopelessness. Five days of fear.

Everyday a guard comes to the door, takes Reno and Rude away, and at the end of the day, brings them back, looking worse than before. Reno has a long, deep gash across his forehead that doesn't ever seem to stop bleeding, making him dizzy a lot of the time. Other times, he is passed out from whatever horrible beating they give the two. Apparently the punisher doesn't like Reno as much as Rude. That same guard brings us a tiny tray with two slices of slate bread and one small cup of gross tasting water once a day. I usually give Marlene my bread and only take one or two sips from the cup so that she doesn't go hungry. She's only seven, she shouldn't be going through this.

"Is daddy coming today?" Marlene asks, just like every other day.

"We'll see," is all I say in reply. As much as I try to keep my hopes up that Cloud and the others will save us, there's that growing doubt deep down and I don't know how long I have until I either go insane or starve.

"How many days today, Denzel?" She yawns.

"Today is five," I sigh.

"I think he's gonna come today," she nods. "Five's his favorite number."

"Is it?" I glance over at her.

"Yeah."

Then we sit in silence, awaiting the time for the guard to come around. I think his name was Jacob. But he never does. We sit for hours, waiting for the smart haired guard to come, to bring Marlene her food and to take Reno and Rude away.

"When's Mr. Torture gonna get here?" Reno mumbles under his breath. I can see his ribs through his shirt, which is also shredded all over the back and torn at the sides.

"No idea," I shake my head.

"I'm hungry," Marlene whimpers.

"So am I, Mar. You just have to be patient."

"But what about Reno's breakfast," she frowns. Me and the red haired Turk share a look and then I sigh.

"He eats it...later."

"Oh. Okay."

Then it's all quiet again. Until I hear the unfortunate jingle of keys meaning Jacob is coming. I frown and glare at the spot he usually stands in to unlock the cell door. Only there's something different about him today. Maybe it's the way he walks, or how he fumbles uncertainly with the key ring, or maybe it's the tale man behind him, standing kinda like... I feel my eyes widen I strain to see Jacob's eyes. Yes! They're blue, not brown! I give a sigh if relief, but still try to convince myself it might not be those two.

"Hey Jacob, hurry up!" Reno taunts. "My back is itching for that whip of yours."

"Maybe your front should be itching for it too," he shoots back, but not with his usual bite.

"Where's our food, Jacob," I say hesitantly, testing him.

"Ran out," he shrugs.

"Of moldy bread and toilet water?" I sneer.

"Moldy bread? Toilet water?" he looks disgusted as the lock clicks. "Doesn't sound like an appetizing meal to me."

"It's all we got for the prisoners," His friend rolls his eyes.

"That's it?"

"Yeah, well, the president doesn't seem to think these kids are worth it."

"Really now?" Jacob smirks. "And why's that, Gale?" Gale...?