Fifteen

I blinked slowly, trying to get my eyes adjusted to the dim light in which I now found myself. My head was groggy and heavy, like I had been asleep for days.

That sour, charcoal burn smell filled my nostrils, making me gag. I tried to cover my nose to block out the smell, but my hands were stuck.

I cried out as I realised that I couldn't move because I was strapped to a chair, my hands bound behind my back. I groaned in frustration, trying to break free.

"Don't. Don't struggle. It's what they thrive on."

I tried to stifle another cry as I saw Jamie through the smoke, opposite me. He was also restrained on a chair, his left eye bruised and cut. His voice was hoarse from all the smoke and fire raging beneath us somewhere. Beads of sweat all over his face as his body tried to combat the intense heat. I knew I must look the same.

"Jamie, you're... you're hurt."

I coughed after spluttering out the words. It had been more painful to talk than I realised it would be.

"Don't worry about me. I don't want to alarm you but they've knocked you on the head pretty hard. You are bleeding and probably concussed. Try not to move, just stay still."

At his words, my head throbbed with pain. So that was what the groggy feeling was. I tried to focus as he spoke again.

"I love you Cassie. We are going to make it, we will get out of here."

A small sob escaped my lips. Not for me and the pain I was going through, but the fact that Jamie was being held in this place once again. He was being so strong. I saw movement to the right of me and turned my head painfully to see Popkins stirring on a chair. I realised that we were all in here, sitting in a circle, a few feet between us all. Mel and Miles to the left of me were still out cold.

"Those two put up the biggest fight so they are going to take longer to wake up. They are more battered than we are."

I half gasped, half cried at the familiar sound of Popkins voice.

"Popkins, you're talking. How...how are you feeling?"

Every word was a struggle against the smoke and the choking feeling.

"I've been better darling. I've been better. But thanks to all of you for busting me out. Or trying. You should have left me here though because...well....now look at us."

"They would have taken us anyway Popkins. It didn't matter if you were here or not. We were always on the most wanted list and that didn't change just because they had you."

Popkins gave a slight nod at Jamie's words, realising that what he said was true.

"This isn't how we die though. I'm an old wizard, I've lived through some very testing and tricky times...and I can feel it. This isn't how we die."

I coughed again, my whole body racked with pain. The torture hadn't even started yet and I already wondered if death were the easier option.

"I don't know Popkins. It doesn't feel like we are going to make it right now. I feel weak."

As soon as I said the words, my vision started to go cloudy. Just before I shut my eyes, I saw Jamie staring at me, his face full of terror.

~~~~~~~~~~~

"Cassie. Cassie wake up." I groaned, wondering where I was and who was disturbing my sleep. I fluttered my eyes open, biting back pain as my head felt like it would explode. As my eyes adjusted, I remembered where I was. Hell. "That's it. Keep your eyes open. It's time to wake up."

It was Miles who was talking. His tone was softer, gentler than I remembered. I sleepily looked at him, then at Mel, giving a weak smile as I realised they were both awake.

"You're awake. Thank....thank goodness. Popkins was tell...telling me that you g... guys struggled with...." I closed my eyes again, forgetting what I had been about to say. It was only when the fiery smell burned my throat and nose once more that I remembered. I opened my eyes, although it was an effort. "Are you guys OK?"

Mel and Miles glanced at each other, alarm written all over their faces.

"We've been awake for hours Cassie. You've been the one who is struggling..."

"Mel, she doesn't need to know that. You will just worry her."

Jamie's voice now, full of panic. I didn't want to move my head to look at him. It hurt too much.

"He's right Mel, some details can just be left, you don't need to tell everyone every thing all the time. You are capable of just keeping quiet."

"Remind me why we rescued you again? You are nothing but an annoying billion year old wizard who doesn't know when to..."

"Guys, please." Miles cut Mel off, his voice firm and angry. "This isn't doing Cassie any good. Just quit the arguing. Cassie? Cassie...look at me."

I bit my lip, sure my head was about to split open any minute. I just about managed to look at Miles, each second I had my eyes open torturous.

"You were with me when I found out about Rosie. Don't let those maniacs do this to you. Don't be another Rosie." His eyes closed briefly as he remembered that moment. I watched him take a deep breath, before looking at me again. "Don't let them laugh at you because you are weak. Rosie wasn't weak. The bastards killed her and then laid all the blame on her for not being stronger. You can't let it happen to you, do you hear me?"

I knew what he was saying. I desperately wanted to talk to him about it and let him know that Rosie wasn't weak. But I just wanted to sleep.

"I'm just so tired. Just...just one more....one more sleep?"

"Stay with us Cassie. Keep those beautiful eyes open. Cassie.... Stay awake."

Jamie's voice was hysterical as I closed my eyes once more. Then the silence and black came, engulfing me again.

~~~~~~~~

I didn't know how long I had been sleeping for, but as I came to, I remembered where I was straight away. I looked across at Jamie who was looking at the floor between us, years of torture and pain telling a story in his golden eyes.

"Jamie. I won't let you go through it again. Popkins was right. This isn't how it ends."

His whole face lit up as he looked at me.

"You're awake!"

Despite everything, I flashed him a small smile. Then I looked at Miles.

"We will make it out of here in Rosie's honour. This is for her. And for Maisie. We are going to make it."

My head still hurt like crazy, but I was more alert now. I had a fight within me, which only got stronger as I looked at all my friends tied to chairs, various cuts and bruises on their faces. The boys were all in black trousers and shirtless, just like Popkins had been when we rescued him. I was absolutely determined that I would get Jamie out of here before the authorities could add any more scars to his body. Mel and I were in black strap tops and shorts, with the words prisoner stamped all over them.

I started trying to figure out a way to get free, twisting my hands this way and that to get loose, all to no avail. I didn't know what my plan was going to be, but I couldn't just sit here and take it.

I jumped as the door banged open, with ten big burly prison guards in their black uniforms and hats marching in. I gave Jamie a look, trying to signal that it would be OK. He didn't seem convinced. I gasped as Miles, Mel and Popkins were lifted into the air, still on their chairs.

"It's the fire pits for you three. We are taking you to get friendly with our Hell Raisers. Say bye to your friends."

The guards laughed, sending chills through my body. Mel wimpered as she was being carried out of the door by two guards. The door shut after they had all left, leaving Jamie and I with four of the meanest, biggest guards that were there.

"Let them go. They don't deserve this."

I wasn't afraid. I was angry.

One of the guards stroked my hair, I bit my lip hard, disgusted at his touch.

"They are getting exactly what they deserve. But don't worry your pretty little head about them. It's time to be more concerned for yourself."

"I'm not scared of you. I know in my heart that I don't deserve to be here. That my friends shouldn't be here. So nothing you do to me is going to make me fearful. It will only make my hatred for you and the authorities stronger."

The guard who had been stroking my hair crouched down in front of my face. I could barely see his eyes underneath the dark cap, but I knew they were evil. His teeth were yellowing and his breath foul as he spoke.

"Nothing we do to you is going to make you fearful huh?" He chuckled, I kept my steely glare on him, determined he wouldn't get to me. "We thought as much. Which is why your first torture will be to sit there and watch the man you love suffer at our hands instead."

An involuntary shudder thundered through my core. I didn't dare look at Jamie, I couldn't take the pain of him knowing what he was about to go through.

"No." I looked at the man, my eyes pleading. "Please, not him."

My voice was barely a whisper. The guard laughed hard, then stood up, clicking his fingers at the other guards. I squirmed as they made their way to Jamie, exclaiming as they produced what looked like spark plugs. All four of them had one in each hand as they edged towards him, malicious glee on their evil faces. Jamie, who hadn't heard what the guard said to me about having to watch him be tortured, met my eyes. He looked determined and seemed strong, but I could see the tell tale signs of fear as he clenched his jaw together, his pupils wide.

"We want to offer you both a big warm welcome to Electrocution Hour." The guard who had been in my face spoke. He was clearly the leader. "Jamie, you are lucky enough to be familiar with the process already. But let me go over the rules for your girlfriend here."

I scowled at him, biting back a retort. I had to stay calm for Jamie. Maybe there was a way I could stop it. I just had to think. The guard spoke again.

"We are going to take turns and electocute your man here constantly for the next hour. Maybe two if we feel like it. The Electrocution levels are high enough to kill animals, and any of the other generations if we do it long enough, but you Sapphires are a rare bunch. It doesn't kill you, even multiple shocks. But every single shock will send excruciating pain through his body that will make him want to die. And you young lady, you are going to watch. If you turn away or close your eyes longer than a blink, we will kill him straight away."

I cried out, a tear rolling down my cheek.

"Please don't. I'm begging you. Please."

Nothing but laughter from the guards. I was about to protest again but caught Jamie's eye. He shook his head slightly, his expression soft. Another tear fell as he mouthed 'I love you'.

One of the guards stepped close to him, hovering a shock pad across his chest. Jamie grunted as the pad touched him, his whole body convulsing. Before he could get his breath from that, another shock hit him, this time on his arm. I watched in horror as they gave him shock after shock, barely letting him regain any sense of composure between each one. His grunts had turned into hollow shouts as his body writhed in pain.

Although every part of me was screaming to look away, I had to keep watching as they hurt him again and again. At this point, I knew he would rather die, but I couldn't stand the thought of that happening so I had to keep my eyes on him. I knew it had only been around five minutes. I couldn't comprehend how anyone could survive an hour having this done to them.

"He's had enough. He's already been through hell. Torture me instead. Please."

"Don't worry Princess, you'll get your turn."

His words didn't scare me. Nothing could scare me as much as seeing Jamie being tortured before my own eyes. I had no choice but to sit there and watch the continuous shocks rain down on Jamie for the next hour. What else could I do? Let him die or have to watch this. My options were bleak.

Finally, after what seemed like days rather than a mere hour, they stopped and put the shock pads down. At first, I wasn't even sure if Jamie were alive. His nose was bleeding from the stress of everything. His eyes were glazing over, but he desperately tried to hold his head up and look at me, despite his whole body twitching in pain.

"The same rules apply this time around. Jamie, if you take your eyes off Cassie it will mean instant death for her."

I felt so much for him. He could barely hold his head up after that torture, let alone keep his eyes trained on me. I watched as the guards retrieved four large needles from a box in the corner, their eyes gleaming as they held them up.

"N...no. Not...not the need...needles. I'll....I'll take them...not h...her."

Every word Jamie said was an effort. I shook my head, glaring at him, then met the guard leader in the eyes.

"Bring it on. Nothing can hurt as much as watching what you just did to Jamie."

"I wouldn't be so sure on that. These needles are filled with poison from a venemous snake. Like the shocks, it won't kill you just like that...but the venom will take over your body slowly. It will make you sweat, give you hallucinations and cause unbearable pain that will last for hours. You will get four injections all at the same time. Then we simply watch as you suffer. We love our job."

I didn't say anything. I looked at Jamie. I could see all the guards coming at me from the corner of my eye. I braced myself as they got ready to inject me. Two of them stabbed my arms. I kept a cry of pain in as I felt the sting of the needle and the venom seep through. The other two came at me, one holding a needle to my neck, the other at my thigh. I couldn't stop the sob as the needles pierced my skin. I liked to think I was braver than I was acting, but the pain was instant, the venom already burning my body.

I tried my best to focus on Jamie, feeling the poison swim through my veins. The room was becoming unbearably hot. My whole body felt as though it were on fire. The stinging started in my arms and spread through me, zigzagging in every direction. It felt like being stung by a million needles inside and out. I was almost certain that every organ started to slow down, not working as hard as they should. It would have been easy to let the unconsciousness take me so I didn't have to deal with the hurt, but I had to be strong. Jamie had dealt with his torture and I had to manage mine.

In the dim light, something sparkled up near the ceiling in the corner. I realised that the hallucinations had already started as I watched Maisie float down, smiling at me softly. Seeing her silvery sparkling light was peaceful, I didn't really mind this hallucination because seeing Maisie again was nice. Three other ghosts glided across the room, then gathered around Maisie. The hallucination must have been strong as I watched Jamie notice the ghosts, his eyes widening.

The four ghosts each crept up behind a guard and started humming in their ears. The guards turned, the smiles on their faces at watching me suffer turning to dismay as they realised what the intrusion was.

The pain in my body was winning out over watching the hallucination, so I had to really concentrate on what was happening as I saw Maisie blow me a quick kiss, then close her eyes as she stepped right into the guard, disappearing. The other ghosts did the same to the three guards that remained, than ran over to Jamie, untying him from the chair. It was quite comical watching the jumpsuit clad guards who were so big and brutal help Jamie when they had been torturing him just minutes before. This venom was truly unusual to make me imagine a scenario like this.

The ghosts that were now guards came rushing up to me, Jamie leading the way. As the ghost guards untied me, Jamie kissed me on the cheek and whispered in my ear.

"This isn't the venom. It's real. You are safe."

And that's when I knew he was right. That this was actually happening. How, I wasn't sure, but it was real.

As I felt the ghost guards help me off the chair, pain jolted through me with a force I didn't know was possible.

I took one last look at Jamie before I felt the venom spread to my already erratic heart. I genuinely felt the exact moment it stopped beating and fell to the floor, the darkness engulfing me once more.