The distant music of birds chirping coxes me out of my stiff slumber. I sit up, my shoulders and back aching from sleeping on the cement all night. I turn my head to see food and water set on the ground near me, I reach for the tray and pull it close.

The food is nothing fancy, just bread and cheese, but anything at this point is a luxury. I gratefully take the cheese and bring it to my mouth before the door slams open with a skull shattering bang.

I reach my hands to my ears and cover them despite my blistered wrists. When my gaze moves up I see a handsome man, about twenty or so standing in the doorway. His light brown eyes are fixed on my cheese and he walks over grabbing it from me and throwing it out the door.

"Hey," I snap hungrily, "I was going to eat that."

"Really? I thought you were admiring it?" The man scoffs sarcastically moving back to the door, "And just so you know, that wasn't safe to eat, so unless you want to get sick I recommend not ingesting it."

Slumped over I stay quiet, my stomach growling angrily at him. I set a cold glare on him as he stares at my blistered wrists. I do not like this guy one bit. At least the hooded man was thoughtful, I trust him more than this sleazy creep, but yet again that's not saying much.

"Fine." I mumble grabbing my bread and taking a big bite out of it before chewing.

"Fine." The man rolls his eyes at me sneering before walking out the door and slamming it shut.

I grimace at the sharp clang and satisfying lock the door makes as continue to glare at it like my vision is made of lasers. I finish my bread and water, kicking the empty tray across the floor near the door. I turn my head around and fully examine the room, it feels like this is the first time I'm able to without fainting.

The walls are covered in large splotches of green from the moss growing and thriving. The window above my head is small and provides little light, the bars over it doesn't help. The room is tiny and made of a dull cracked cement. I'm alone and it's dusty in here, the sunlight the shines through the window, it's golden light reflecting off of the dust particles resembling golden flakes.

So it's certain I'm in a jail cell, the chains and shackles should say as much. Even though they're rusty they don't break, I hope I don't get tetanus.

I try to stand up but my shackles around my wrists are far too short, only six inches long and locked in the ground. Guess they don't want me to move around.

I flop onto the ground sitting down. I look down to see my black tights are dirty and my black long sleeve is stiff from Richy's dried blood. I look to the ground and clench my fist, the vivid memory of his last breath flickering on repeat in the back of my mind like a broken record. I don't have his knife anymore, I'm locked in a dungeon and my friends could be dead somewhere and I don't know.

I scream out, loud and filled with frustration. It seems to come from no where but it arises from the helplessness of my own dark fissure.

My eyes cloud with tears and I dig my heels into the ground. Yanking my arms up with all my might, I force my blisters to pop and bleed. I continue to pull and fight the chains. Putting my heels to the place where my chains are screwed into the ground I kick hard. I feel my right foot break free and than I kick my left chain over and over again, finally wiggling the anchor out of the cracked cement. I stand up as tall as I can with my hands still chained to the cold floor. My eye catches a large nail which is still in the anchor of my left foots chain. Grabbing it I stick the nail in the keyhole of the shackle around my wrists and smash the it to the ground. A satisfying crack comes from the steel bind as it breaks and falls to the ground with a clang. I do the same to my other hand, it takes a couple tries but it get it.

I'm free. Bloody, but free.

I run to the door and yank at it, locked, of course. I move to the window and try to reach the bars, I get a hold of one and pull. It slides out easily so I jump up and try for another, this one doesn't budge and I continue to yank until I hear the door from behind me unlock and open.

I immediately let go of the window and let my feet land onto the ground. I hold my breath, freezing my muscles hoping that I wouldn't be seen if I don't move. An uncomfortable silence follows before I daringly rotate my head steadily to the steel door behind me. Standing there is the hooded man. He walks calmly into the room, closing the door behind him slowly.

"It's you." I whisper as shift in the uncomfortable silence, the musty air coating my lungs making it hard for me to say anything else.

He nods while taking a step forward. I match his step and take one stride back. Bending over I grab one of the bars I pried out of the window and hold it up to him. He may have saved me and slowly nurtured me back to life but I still don't trust him, I can't afford that.

The man lifts his arms up and spins showing me he has no weapons. I lower my bar but still have it pointed at him. The hooded man reaches into his pocket and pulls out a key before pointing my my shackles around my ankles. I understand what he's saying so I put my bar down at my side and sit down, my feet stretch out to him.

With a click there's an instant sweet release around ankles, soothing my red irritated skin. I smile at him as he looks up to me, his hidden face blocked from any emotion.

"Thank you." I bring my ankles to my hands and rub them gently.

He nods a 'you're welcome'. Before taking an ointment out of his pocket and some bandages. He reaches his gloved hand out and I give him mine. Delicately he touches my wrists and I wince, his head shoots up and looks me in the eye for what I assume is worry.

"It's okay, just stings a little." I nod at him to continue his work.

He shifts his crouched position so he's closer to me but is still in front. His leather gloves take my wrist and he pours water onto my open blisters, I take a sharp breath in seizing for a moment. He continues to work putting a cream on my wrists and finally wraps them tightly in a white bandage.

Once he's finished he backs away and stands up offering me his hand. I take the risk and grab a hold of it and let him pull me to my feet. He pulls quickly and once I'm on my feet I loose my balance and fall into his chest. Thankfully, he catches me and helps me back up. When I look up to him to say thank you I realize how close we are, and that's when I notice he's wearing a black balaclava over his face underneath his hood. No wonder I couldn't see a anyone.

Quickly he pushes me back his hands still on my shoulders supporting me so I don't fall. "Thank you." I whisper lowly stepping out of his grip.

Again he nods and turns to leave the room abruptly.

"Wait," I call. He stops and turns around just before reaching the door, "my friends, are they okay? I need to see them."

The man stands for a moment thing to himself before opening the door and leaving without a word. Talk about a man of few words.

I guess he leaves me no choice. I have to get out of here by myself.

A/N
Hey readers!! Thank you so much for reading I really appreciate the support and votes you've given me!

Sorry I haven't updated in a while, I've been pretty busy with school but today I wanted to post something in spite of my test tomorrow. Thank you so much again and please criticize my work if you think I can do something better!

Until next time,
Denim Hawk