Chapter Twelve: On Enemy Lines

Four despondent weeks in Hell passed for the three soldiers locked in Emperor Mentir's dungeon and they had not found the opportunity to attempt another escape. Gerardo had been dragged back and forth from the Interrogation Room every day, nearly saturated in his own blood and today was worse. When he was returned to the prison, he coughed and choked in the arms of the two servants dragging him until his knees gave out completely. The servants let him collapse to the floor and waited until he was finished. Gerardo continued to cough up blood as he clutched his stomach in ruthless agony and groaned, doing everything he could to push through the torment. Once he had finished hacking, a guard seized the collar of his shirt and flung him inside the cell with Travis and Jole.