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The Hidden
Confinement (Damian)

Confinement (Damian)

We moved from the helicopter to a larger plane and took off, presumably from Athens airport or some air base.

I took care to keep counting. In the end, the plane ride was long enough that we are either on the other side of Africa, or on an aircraft carrier in the ocean. My bet is firmly on the second option. I think we are likely on an American aircraft carrier based on who I'm hearing around me, the smells of oil, grease, and salt; and the ground not being quite stable.

They move the gurney out of the plane and carry me below decks. The humans are concerned at this point that I might be dead. I do nothing to correct this notion. Dead means protocols get lax and escape becomes trivial.

They drop me on the floor and close what must be a cage door, and leave.

I continue my ruse, and listen to the sounds around me. I am not alone. There are others in other cells all around me. I wonder who they are, what races they are.

Boots step confidently down the corridor, they stop in front of my cell. "I know your faking it. Called to check with our informant to make sure he didn't kill you. He is confident you are alive."

Ruse up, I work my way out of the chains and stand up. They did not make it easy, but I've been working on them for about eight hours. I haven't truly been trapped for at least half that time.

The Colonel smiles, "There, that's better. Nice to talk face to face." He tosses a blood packet through the bars. I don't grab it and it sloshes on the floor. "Not hungry? I suppose you will be soon. You should eat it before it goes bad, you won't be getting another for a long time."

The bars are close together, but I could still reach through. The officer is standing between two painted lines on the floor, presumably marking territory that is safely out of arm's reach. Even so, he looks far too calm for someone standing across from a vampire only separated by a few bars.

Something is not right.

I listen closely. It is loud in here. Machine noises from the ship, the sound of many people walking around and talking, and under it all a light sound of current. Current that surrounds me.

My eyes turn hard. They have electrified the cell.

I step closer to the bars and examine them. Silver plated and electrified.

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I look down, I'm standing on a rubber rug that only exists in the middle of the room. There is a wooden cot shoved into the back corner. If I step off the rug or touch the walls, I'd be willing to bet I would be shocked and burned. Everything not on the rug or cot looks silvered as well.

The colonel smiles, his eyes are hungry and cruel. "Seems you are smarter than the others. You aren't getting out of that cage vampire." He turns and walks away. While leaving he says, "Make yourself at home, it is the last home you will ever have." Then he slams the door to the hall.

Overall, the cell isn't bad. I have definitely been in worse. There is a bed, and a comfortable rug. And there are still chains and a gourney slab I can use for something.

I take a moment to clean up so I have room to pace. The gurney slab goes under the bed. I move quickly so it connecting with the metal wont shock me. I stick the chains on top of the slab. I'll pull it out later if I decide it has use.

Then I lie down in the middle of the rug and think.

There are most likely cameras watching the cells, and they likely have microphones, which is why the others in cells I can't see haven't contacted me.

What are the chances they are other races?

I take a deep inhale, searching for scents that would give me clues who my fellow captors are. Nothing. The smell of grease and diesel is overwhelming.

Could there be a fae on board? Or a lethifold? Something that can communicate through telepathy?

"Hello? Is anyone there?" I think as loudly as I can, mentally projecting the thought outwards. Then I wait.

And wait.

I guess there aren't any—

"Sorry… I couldn't… respond earlier… they were giving me a 'lesson'" the mental reply is patchy. If I were standing next to the creature, they would likely be curled up and panting in pain.

"I'm glad there is someone I can communicate with," I project back, "Are you alright? Can I do anything to help? What is you name?"

"Nice… not to be… alone. I… I… Puck"

"Puck! It has been a long time! It's Loki. How long have you been here?"

"Loki! We… need… escape…"

"I understand. Do you know who else is here?"

"Siren… phoenix… witch… Remus… small bone fairy…"

"Wait! They have Remus?"

"Yes…"

"Okay Puck, just rest. I'll send soothing images your way to help."

"Than…" and then she's asleep. If we are going to coordinate an escape, we will need Puck at full strength so we can communicate.

I start humming a song Puck's mother used to sing to us when we were little, and project images of how she used to read stories to us when she tucked us in. I can feel Puck sleeping calmly, and I put a little power into my thrall and send it her way. It is power wrapped in giftwrap for her, and her body takes it and starts healing.

I reach up and grab the blood packet, keeping most of my focus on helping Puck heal and sleep. I rip off a corner and smell it. AB positive. Yuck. Personally, I'm an A negative kind of guy. I thoroughly check to make sure the blood is not poisoned. It seems fine, so I take a sip. If I'm going to get Puck to full health, I'm going to need to feed.

No negative reactions to the sip. So I down the whole thing.

Puck feels healthier by the minute, and my little pick me up means I'm not sacrificing much strength to get her there.

I settle down and wait. The sooner we can get out of here the better.