Aris was correct. Harriet commanded to have him thrust into the Cell, minus the bindings, he was a prisoner .This time, he and Rachel sat together, completely petrified. Eventually, Aris sat on the bed. "What do you is going to occur?" he asked, stretching the shackles slightly. Telling everyone was just an...error. A mistake.
"I don't know. Maybe she discovered we could speak telepathically, and then become outraged." Rachel kept her gaze trained on the ground. "At least offers me some time to think. Look, that Shade's wing has nothing to with you--or me. It just occurred. And triggering the Ending...that has nothing to do with you either."
An opening of the Cell opened, and food was passed out. Rye bread with butter. He wrinkled his nose, but took a tentative bite and passed the other one to Rachel. The consequence was just senseless. All he did was discover a Shade. The fear of being disqualified as a Skater itched at the back of his mind
He leaned up against the wall of the Cell. Rachel was seated next to him, fiddling with her fingers. He wondered what Sonya was doing. For him, it seemed entirely pointless, that he was being imprisoned for discovering a Shade's wing, and besides, that had letters and numbers as well. But, as Sonya had claimed, there was much more letters and numbers.
So? he thought. Whoever thrust us in here--
For a split second, he thought about why he was thrust in here, and why he recalled only Teresa and Rachel. Were they here for some....purporse? What could it mean? He wished he had some sort of explanation. Maybe if he got pricked, he could have memories.
***
By the time shafts of daylight emerged, Harriet returned with the ring of keys and unbolted the locks to the Cell. "Aris, the Newbie, prepare to be interrogated." She stepped menacingly towards him, yanking on his shirtsleeve, and snapped on the cuffs, Sonya right behind her. "We're still highly concerned about what you might do, come on."
She dragged him towards the hall and towards a chair and a table. A girl silently set a trayful of food in front of him, and Aris padded numbly down and shot daggers at Harriet, who sat down, fuming. I swear, I have nothing to do with--"
"Shut your sticky mouth before I tear your lips out!" Harriet snapped. "Now, get some food into your stomach."
Aris glanced at his food. To his astonishment, there was a bowl of stew, a plateful of rolls and a glass of frothy milk. He gulped it down, spooned the bean stew into his mouth and bit off hunks of rolls. When his plate was half-clean, he relished the satisfaction of a full belly.
"Now." Harriet leaned forward, as a girl whisked the tray away. "So, how did you discover that wing? Why were there so many letters and numbers on it?"
Aris bit his lip. "It was concealed in the Walls, I swear, as if someone positioned there on purpose. I have no idea why it is that way--Sonya said that never occurred. So, seeing that was surprise, and we thought we'd inform you, see what you think. It has to mean something, these codes, because, well, there's more."
"So, what did you mean by the Ending?"
"No idea. It was like--my body couldn't function, nor control what spilled out of my mouth."
"Hmm." Harriet regarded him suspiciously. "Oh, well. You're free, I suppose, Sonya needs your assistance, anyway. Here's the deal. We'll flee from this prison of safety or whatever, eventually. If there's no exit, I'll kill you myself, if you don't get pricked first. You hear me?"
Aris looked up, shocked, as fear coursed through him and he bit his lip. He glanced over his shoulder, feeling Sonya seize his arm and drag him out of the room, talking to Harriet and finally guiding him towards the hut beside the Map Igloo and unbolted the door. What now? he thought numbly as the door secured with a lock.
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