Departed

Chapter 9: Backstory

Morro's POV

     The guards were anything but gentle. It was obvious that I was going to be punished for not saying yes the minute I left the room. Queen Malevolence stated she had an offer for Harumi, but then claimed it was too late to share. Both Harumi and I were pressed in different directions once we exited the area. She was probably going back to a comfy bed. What was in store for me, I didn't know.

     I was forced down an unfamiliar hallway that delved even deeper into the darkness, through locked doors that had to be unlocked by eye sensors, and into a pitch-black corridor that smelled of dead rats. The air was thick and murky like a blanket of wet mold. I couldn't see anything, which meant the guards might not be able to either. As much as I wanted to twist out of their grips and make a run for Harumi, trying that would most likely end my death. The Oni were fast, cunning warriors that could shapeshift their way out of any situation. Right now, as far as I knew, they weren't intending to kill me yet.

     When we finally exited the tunnel, I found myself in a prison. The first thing that stuck out to me was that there seemed to be no cells. There was a locked door, but inside it was just layer after layer of bars. The second thing that stuck out was that it was the only 'cell'. The rest of the room was blaringly empty, save one small seat for a fatigued guard.

      Odd.

      One of the guards opened a cell door and the others shoved me into the bars. The minute they closed the door I started to get claustrophobic. Thin, metal pressed on me from the door side and large, widely spaced bars pressed on me from the other. There wasn't enough room to lean down, much less move around without serious discomfort. What was wrong with letting the prisoner move?

      "You gave me a nice room and warm meals and now you're throwing me in a prison? Doesn't seem very hospitable or logical." I called out to the guards. "You could have just shoved me out into the desert."

      They ignored me as all but one left the room. That one didn't look at me; he simply stood by the entryway with his eyes fixed on an imaginary point.

      I focused on trying to find a way out. Each bar was evenly spaced. The cell had no bed, no rug, and not even a space where I could sit. I slumped against one of the bars, my body already aching from the strange positions I had to contort myself into. There was nothing but the sound of dripping from somewhere outside the prison.

       Then, I heard a voice.

      "When wheels turn and birds fly, they have freedom to go where they wish."

       The singing was old and faded. And crazy, by the sound of the confused string of words. Before I could even move to investigate, a face slammed into the bars right in front of me.

       I yelped in surprise, trying to back up. I got a headache instead since my head slammed into the metal bars.

       The person in front of me squinted at my figure, confusing crossing her stretched figures. As my eyes adjusted to the dim light in the cell, I noticed she looked young and old at once, with vivid green eyes and sharp cheekbones. Her hair was a bird's nest, faded and ratty, with gray streaks running through the natural dark blonde color. As much as I was surprised at her sudden appearance, something about her immediately put me on guard. It wasn't the fact she was in prison. She looked... familiar.

     The woman scanned me. "Who are you?" She rasped.

      I eyed her warily. "A prisoner, like you."

      She laughed at that, but it was a cold laugh. "No one is a prisoner like me." When I didn't answer, she continued. "What could you have possibly done to get down here? Malevolence doesn't let anyone join me."