Fractured by T C Edge

Author:T C Edge [Edge, T C]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2019-04-02T22:00:00+00:00

17

Brie

"Is this damn rattling ever going to end!"

Marcus isn't usually one, I've learned, to get annoyed by much, yet the current rattling of the chains in the carriage have clearly begun to bear him down. He sits, bunched against the chains in the wall of his cell, able at least to stop them from moving as the carriage rumbles along. The others cells, however, he cannot access. And in each, those chains continue to jingle with a seemingly never-ending energy.

"Just block it out," I say, sitting at the back wall of my own cell, helping at least to stop some of the constant clanking by pressing my back against the chains and shackles there. "Ignore it, Marc."

"Ignore it? Ignore that!" he points towards the other cells, as the carriage rolls onto a particularly bumpy track. The chains respond by rattling even more loudly than normal.

I have to admit, it is extremely annoying. But, with Marcus being annoyed enough for the both of us, I find no reason to add my own frustrated voice to the mix.

The trouble is, it never really ends. We've been a couple of days on the road now and haven't stopped once, at least not for more than a few minutes at a time to allow the soldiers to relieve themselves in the woods. During those stops, Marc and I are given the same liberty, guarded by Bull and Dozer as we're escorted to the woods, or whatever privacy we can find, to release whatever bodily fluids we need to. It is often during those times, too, that we're fed our drugs.

Those breaks, however, are the only ones we get. We don't stop for the night. We don't halt the convoy to make camp. It seems that Kovas and the Overseer, or whoever the hell is in charge, is keen to get back to Olympus as soon as humanly possible. And that means travelling quickly too, which doesn't much help with the volume of the rattling chains either.

"It's torture," Marcus barks. "That's what it is. They're trying to break us before we get to Olympus. And I'll tell you what...it's working!"

"Oh, man up Marc, for goodness sake," I shout. Yes, to combat that rattling, I really have to raise my voice. "It's bad enough for me having to listen to this racket without you moaning on as well!"

I have, it seems, reached my breaking point too. I think it's clear that both of us are feeling the stress of our captivity now.

My words do have an impact on him, though, by the contrite look on his face. "Sorry," he says. "You're right. I should be more positive."

"Thanks, Marc," I say. "I know this is a pretty raw deal, but we just gotta get on with it, OK. We have to deal with it together."

"I know. It's just..." He grits his teeth as we hit a bump, the chains all clinking and clanking together, as though intent on driving the knife in deep. He draws a breath and raises a smile, as if to combat his growing anger.

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