Claiming The Remnant

Chapter 2

[ Taiya ]

Garrett or whoever was outside the cell slammed the door shut, leaving me with a very nervous looking guard.

“Hey.” I flashed him a smile. He looked very young, perfect; his lack of experience should make him an easy target. Sure the door was locked from the outside but if I could just get out of these bonds then I could make a dash for it.

“My arms are killing me – you couldn’t be a sweetheart and give me a breather?” I said sweetly.

Nothing. Dude didn’t even look my way.

“Come on handsome, what’s a couple of inches?” I put on my most seductive voice.

Still nothing but hey, I had time.

“Pretty please.” I pleaded, putting a little emotion into my voice. “I won’t tell.”

His fingers twitched. He was thinking about it.

“Just drop a couple of links for me?” I gave him wide teary eyes. “It’s just the two of us here, no one will know. What do you say gorgeous?”

I watched with anticipation as he reached for the lever.

“Ugh.” I grunted as instead of lowering me like I wanted he lifted me up.

“Two minutes is up.” The guard said flatly.

“T-t-oo hi-high” I gasped, trying to stretch my toes to the icy floor. I couldn’t breathe. A few days ago, hell, a couple of hours ago I would have been able to pull myself up but right now I just didn’t have the energy. I still had a trick or two but I wasn’t going to show my hand yet – after all Garrett had told, no ordered him, to keep me alive so clearly this was just him taunting me.

“Sorry, what was that?” He cupped his hand around his ear, mocking me. “I can’t hear you.”

Smug little bugger, probably just a freshly qualified cadet thinking it was fun to f**k with the prisoner. I was starting to see black holes in my vision as the lack of oxygen crushed me. If he didn’t hurry I was going to pass out. A moment later I heard the mechanism release and the chains running through the cogs, there was no time to brace myself before I was dumped on the floor in a heap; the extra chain length hitting me in the back. Well at least I was down, that was what I wanted after all.

“Thanks.” I replied sarcastically. Taking a moment to enjoy this ‘freedom’ I stretched out my limbs. Agh, everything hurt but the pins and needles burning in my arms were the worst. With great difficulty I put it aside and focused on the task at hand.

“So,” I said, giving him a long look. Well wasn’t he a little bit of something, I hadn’t really given him a proper look till now; too busy trying to make a plan - and breathe, super important that one. He was handsome, dark haired and dark umber skinned, muscular, but lean with it, no scars so either he was an outstanding soldier or (and I was heavily suspecting) completely inexperienced. “How about a drink?”

“No.” He smiled at me.

“Why not? Surely even prisoners are entitled to some water?” I pouted.

“Captain didn’t say you could.” He sounded amused.

“Captain didn’t say you couldn’t...” I countered.

“There’s your water.” He said after spitting on the ground.

“Well that’s not very gentlemanly.”

“Well you’re no lady.” He sneered.

“Fair.” I shrugged “How about a deal then soldier boy?”

He scoffed and started winching me up.

“Well...” I rolled my eyes. “I wonder if the Captain would be happy to hear that you disobeyed orders.”

“Why would the Captain believe you?” He jeered.

“He doesn’t need to believe me, the bruises from you dropping me on the floor and dumping the chain on me are enough for the Captain to know you didn’t follow orders soldier boy.” I gave him a twisted smile and he stopped the winch.

“What do you want?” Soldier boy demanded.

“Now that’s more like it,” I smiled at him, what an i***t – the bruises would be there regardless of if I told Garrett what his little lackey had been up to or not but he wasn’t thinking that fast. “Just some water, I don’t think that’s too much to ask.”

Begrudgingly he picked up the bucket of water and came over to me. I was trying to think around him. If I took the ladle I could snap it and turn it into a weapon, I'd have to knock the water over him as a distraction. Once I killed him and got out of these chains I could wait by the door and then make a break for it the second it opened. It wasn’t a great plan, but it was all I had.

The guard held out the ladle. My confidence faltered. The water smelled so good and I was so thirsty. The plan, however, was crap. There wasn’t enough slack on the chains to reach the winch and even if I used my gift I still wouldn’t have enough strength to break the chains. This was not my opportunity.

Greedily I supped the water, wetting my dry lips and washing the taste of blood from my mouth. The guard dropped the empty ladle into the bucket with a splash and started to move away.

“Hey! Don’t be stingy.” I glared at him. If I was only having water then I was most definitely having more than one measly mouthful. “One more - please” I added, begging with my eyes.

Soldier boy held out the ladle once again. I drank more slowly this time and when he put the ladle back and walked away I said nothing. He returned to his post by the winch and raised me up to the right level. With my feet scraping the ground and the water sitting like a block of ice in my stomach we waited for Garrett to return.