The Leaves are Silent

Chapter 7

Chapter 7

You'd be surprised the things you get used to. I mean, to be honest I never thought I'd get used to a terrifying, prison war camp. Well, saying I'm used to it is probably an overstatement, more like I've developed a routine.

Sleep, training, breakfast, training, break, lunch, training, dinner, sleep repeat. It all becomes one after a while. Four days we had been here. We all just performed this routine day in day out. No one caused any bother. We were all to scared off the emotionless guards so no one dared to try anything.

Ian and I hadn't spoken in the four days either. We were in different social groups so I shouldn't expect any different now that we were here. I still couldn't help the small twinge of disappointment though.

Anyway basically what I was trying to say was that I had gotten into the basic rhythm of things so when I was taken from my bed in the middle of the night you'd be safe to say that I was at least a little surprised. I thought I had experienced enough kidnapping within my short life span but apparently I was wrong.

A gag was stuffed in my mouth as I was thrown over someone's shoulder gradually being brought away from the comforts of the tent. I didn't even bother in struggling. What was the point? I was soon brought into the building where Ian and I had been initially kept in. The one with all the black doors.

I was carried into one of the rooms. I was then dropped onto the floor. The gag was pulled out of my mouth just as fast and I was soon able to take in my surroundings. I was in a room where shelves covered the walls stocked with books. My eyes widened as I tried to accumulate the amount of books present in the room. I stood up running my hands along the spines of the books, reading the titles. I was so engrossed I didn't realise there was another presence in the room.

"Do you like books?"

I turned around quickly, my eyes landing on a grey-haired man leaning back in his chair while he stared at me. He had steel blue eyes that contained a sort of intelligence behind them. I glanced at my feet nervously, unnerved by his presence.

"Yeah, I love to read."

He nodded pushing his glasses back up his long nose. It was then I heard voices come down hall. Sort of these muffled yells. In then came Ian, also being carried over the shoulder of one of the guards.

Unlike me, Ian had obviously struggled when being taken. He also was more aware of his surroundings, he didn't give a second glance to the shelves amounted with books but instead fixed his gaze on the man with the grey hair. His eyebrows furrowed further when he saw I was also present in the room.

He was dropped on the floor with a much larger thud than mine and the gag that was stuffed in his mouth was pulled out.

"Seriously, what is with you guys and kidnapping?!" he exclaimed. "I would have come with you like a happy little trooper had you just asked like normal person. But no! God forbid you ask us to do something nicely."

I snorted at his clear annoyance and he turned to glare at me.

"Really Lily, now is not the time to be giggling."

For some reason I felt calm. Perhaps it was the presence of the books or I was slowly going insane. I mocked a contemplative expression and replied to Ian,

"Nah I've giggled at worse times. Remember the time I giggled at a psychotic, murderous dictator and got kidnapped by him. Ahhh good times."

Ian's glare hardened, clearly not finding the situation amusing. He continued to glare at me until another voice spoke,

"Well I'd hate to interrupt your little bonding session but I'm afraid we have some matters to address."

Ian and I both turned our attention to the man sitting behind the desk. I had once again neglected his presence.

"What are we doing here?" Ian asked.

"The mind training thing Ian, remember?" I answered for the professor.

Realisation dawned on Ian's face making it obvious he had forgotten about the whole ordeal.

"Yes Lily is correct, we shall be doing the 'mind training thing'." he smiled a small smile at me.

Strangely enough for the first time in days I felt at ease. Ian must have noticed this because he kept giving me curious glances. I chose to ignore them and I focused in on the books lining the walls. It fascinated me how many books filled the room. Alena popped into my head, I knew she would be as fascinated as I was with this room. I was soon disrupted from my daydream by a cough, bringing me back to the professor sitting across from me.

"You seem a little distracted, Lily." he spoke softly.

"You have so many books." I replied rather bluntly.

He laughed quietly and gave me what almost seemed like an admiring look,

"Why yes I do."

All three of us sat there in silence for a few moments, Ian and I unaware of what we should do.

"So," the professor began, "My name is Professor Quinton. I am here to develop your skills of the mind. These skills differentiate you with almost everyone else here in the camp. We will develop these over the course of a few weeks. Since this is your first one we shall begin with a simple exercise. Both you possess different skills, but we want you to work off each other so one exercise will begin one for another, do you understand?"

Ian and I nodded, both of us curious as to see where this was going.

"Alright, I'm going to begin with you Lily." he continued, "Close your eyes. Now I want you to listen carefully to every sound in the room. Every single one. I want you to tell me each one and their causes."

I gulped visibly. I was going to let him down on the first exercise. I was always useless at these things.

"Don't panic, Lily just tune in."

I listened to him and tried to follow his instructions. It took me a few minutes but soon I could hear things I didn't realise I could. I began to list all the things that I could hear,

" Ian's breathing rapidly because he's nervous, has been since he got in here but has been trying to hide it. Your breathing shallowly, you want to go unnoticed so you can observe, there's also a grasshopper in the drawer under your desk, probably your own proper interaction with anything living. The sound of hollow wind is from the tree log outside your window. Ian's also stopped tapping his foot probably out of surprise or his nervousness has decreased. A door has opened next door to this room so there are guards present close by incase any danger was too happen to you."

Once I was finished, I opened my eyes to see Ian staring at me with a slight look of shock. The professor was looking at me with a look of triumphance. Before he could speak though, I interrupted,

"There's also a fight taking place outside the building and if you don't mind I would like to check that it's not someone I know." I spoke politely.

"Yes you can both go."

Ian followed me out, I quickened my pace so that I could try to make it to the huddle that was present only a few yards from the building.Ian rushed out behind me. I was too late though, the guards had beat me to it.

The huddle had widened slightly, and I once again elbowed my way to the front. Instead of Matthew being in the fight this time it was two boys I didn't recognise. One lay on the ground unconscious blood trickling from his temple, while the other was being held by the ear by one of the guards.

Then the guards spoke, something I won't forget anytime soon,

"This is what happens when you disobey us."

He then shot the boy in the temple, his body crumpling to the ground, dead. Now I was seriously scared.