Chapter LXVIII
Pain and Guilt
The prison seemed alive as the walls trembled. Yet, it was another explosion, closer this time, that jolted the prisoners into action. Dust continued to shower down, causing them to cough.
Adriaas covered her nose with her grimy clothes and moved closer to Pemula. “It’s happening, this is it, they’re rescuing us.”
Pemula stirred from her prone position, weakly rising to take a seat. Adriaas assisted her, leaning her frail body against the metal bars, offering her the last drops of water. It was their last flicker of hope. Pemula responded slowly, her movements feeble but more animated than in the past few days.
The deafening sound of yet another explosion reverberated closer to their cell, causing fragments of rock to rain down on the ground. The prisoners stirred, their reactions a mix of shock and speculation, desperately trying to piece together what was happening. Only Pemula and Adriaas knew the truth.
The clamor from adjacent rooms grew louder as a chorus of screams filled the entire building. Voices echoed from the hallway beyond the door, making the prisoners react as if a fire alarm had been set off, frenzied and anxious.
A deafening crash shattered the door of that section of the prison into countless shards. Fortunately, the adjacent cells were empty, sparing them from the potential harm caused by the explosion’s aftermath. Through the haze of debris, Adriaas could interpret the silhouettes of those intruders. One thing was clear—they were not guards.
The group of individuals entered the room, swiftly breaking lock after lock. A surge of relief washed over Adriaas, overwhelming her with relief, but strangely, no tears escaped her eyes.
It took a while, but one rebel with their face covered finally reached their cell.
“Please step back. We’re here to help,” a familiar voice said.
Those words ignited a spark within Pemula, giving her the strength to obey. With great effort, she turned around and moved, her body weakened from the ordeal, struggling to follow even the simplest commands.
“Miveria...” Her voice was barely audible, a murmur just as they triggered a minor explosion that specifically targeted the lock. The blast was contained within its confines, and the door swung open wide for the first time since their imprisonment began.
“Apologies for the delay. There were several attempts, but it wasn’t until a week ago that we united various factions within Capahuento to coordinate this strike,” Miveria said, her tone filled with remorse and her eyes with sadness as she entered their cramped cell, her gaze falling upon their weakened state.
“My friend, we’re taking you home,” Miveria whispered to Pemula, before turning her attention to Adriaas. “I know you're frail, but can you lend me your strength?”
“Without a doubt, whatever you need,” Adriaas replied filled with adrenaline, her mind buzzed with the reality that they were finally being rescued.
“Support her from the left side. Our priority is getting Pemula out of here. A healer will assist her recovery once we’re out.”
Adriaas needed no further instructions. She followed Miveria’s lead, helping their friend stand up from the ground. Other insurrectionists were opening the remaining cells, liberating prisoners one by one. Pemula struggled to keep up with their pace, but after what felt like an eternity, they finally left their wretched cell. They navigated through the debris left by the explosions and ventured into uncharted territory. Though the cages were now empty, the filth and squalor still lingered, serving as a stark reminder of the suffering endured within those walls. Only after leaving the room did they realize the full scale of the attack.
Every prisoner in the tower was being set free. Their level was among many connected by a single spiral ramp staircase that went up and down, teeming with insurrectionists and newly liberated captives. Miveria paused, surveying the situation, as she held Pemula close to her side, barely conscious.
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“This situation is a mess. Watch your step; the ground is covered by bodies. We need to find a healer,” she cautioned.
Adriaas comprehended the warning as she anxiously scanned her surroundings and saw people on the ground, unsure either dead or alive. They felt how Pemula had slipped into unconsciousness, her body heavy. Miveria and the rebels ahead, all wearing handmade dark green and brown camouflaged clothes, carved out a path amidst the crowd, trying to reach the main level downstairs. Multiple exits, created by the explosions, were being used by the former prisoners to escape their captivity in every other level. Going with the wave of prisoners, they stepped into the daylight for the first time in what felt like an eternity. Adriaas sensed the warmth of her encounter with the sun in her skin, far removed from the shadows that had tainted her perception of reality.
As her eyes adjusted to the brightness, she took in the view. For the first time since arriving in Imperia, she noticed the country’s true beauty. The towering red adobe prison was surrounded by vast hills and abundant trees, a profusion of colors greeting her gaze. The blue sky, green grass, and vibrant flowers overwhelmed her after spending so long in grim darkness. Lost in the mesmerizing scene, Adriaas failed to notice the events unfolding around her until it was too late, when Miveria’s voice reached her ears.
“Let her go, Zaraz, she’s gone.”
Adriaas didn’t immediately register the woman’s words. Seeing her friend away from darkness for the first time since being taken to Landica Prison was heart-wrenching. Together, they gently lowered her to the ground. She no longer resembled the woman Adriaas had known—her curves and beautiful hair were gone, her skin pale, gripping to every bone. Observing her motionless form, as if she were merely sleeping without a breath, something shattered inside Adriaas.
She wanted to cry. Hopeless, she turned to Miveria, grasping into a sliver of surreal hope, clutching her hand.
“Can’t we do something?” Adriaas asked, her voice filled with desperation.
She had no answer. Behind them, a familiar voice called out.
“Miveria! Oh, praise our Vis, Adriaas! Where are Vulnic and Indicture? Is that Pemula?”
When Elchome realized the truth, Adriaas could see the conflicting emotions etched on his face. He knelt beside her lover’s body and held her between his arms, tears streaming down his face as he mourned her, saying intelligible words to Pemula’s ears.
After a couple of moments, she separated from her, kissing the woman’s forehead before leaving her laying on the grass once more.
“I’m glad she’s no longer suffering. It’s as if the weight of the Sapiens age caught up with her. Adriaas, these past two months must have been hell for you. We intended to come earlier, but it was arduous to gather the power for this attack. Capahuento united once more, and after today, our bonds may grow even stronger.”
Adriaas had an urge to confess her crimes.
“Indictur and Vulnic were killed by Sabina on the day we were captured. It was my fault—the...”
“Stop. It wasn’t your fault. That sick, sadistic furkana will pay,” Elchome’s voice remained calm. “I doubted that Vulnic would survive an encounter with Empress Sabina. I’m sure he enjoyed getting under her skin; that furkano despised her with every fiber of his being.”
Adriaas struggled to comprehend the resolute determination in his words and wonder if that man was hiding his true feelings.
“I’m sorry for your loss, Elchome. I know how important your brother and our friends were to you—” Miveria got close to him, placing a hand on his shoulder for comfort.
“Hey!” another familiar voice interjected, filled with desperation. “Did you find Indictur? I can’t find him anywhere!”
Raxae came towards them, about to receive the news, making Adriaas remember Pamula’s words.
Raxae, despite having just broken into a prison, still had their perfectly styled blue hair. Adriaas couldn’t make out the words, but she could feel the sorrow and anguish conveyed. Her own stomach churned as Raxae turned to Miveria, searching for answers to the question asked. Miveria’s response was a solemn negative shake of her head, which only intensified their heart-wrenching reaction.
“Indictur and Vulnic are death too,” Elchome share, his voice trying not to break.
Tears welled up in Raxae’s eyes as they knelt beside her friend, embracing her and whispering last words into Pemula’s ear. Raxae screamed and wept, releasing raw emotions, mourning the loss of Indictur.
After a brief pause, Miveria spoke up, breaking the silence.
“I don’t want to sound insensitive but, now that we have eased some of our pain, can we move forward?” Miveria said, glancing urgently at the dwindling number of rebels and former prisoners who remained. “It won’t be long before someone notices what has happened and sends reinforcements. We need to reach higher ground and seek hiding in the woods.”
Accepting the necessity of their departure, Raxae rose from the ground.
“We’re not taking her with us?” Adriaas asked, troubled by the thought of leaving Pemula behind.
Both Miveria and Raxae looked ashamed.
“We can’t. She would only slow us down. I understand how it might seem from your perspective, but we can’t afford to be sentimental. The Elkrachets certainly won’t be, and Sabina will be on our trail.”
Reluctantly accepting their reasoning, Adriaas had no further objections, and neither did Raxae. In silence, they joined the stream of people fleeing into the wilderness, leaving Pemula behind.
****
See you in "Chapter LXIX - Into the Woods"
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