Submerged Chapter 7

"I have done all that I can with the human, but he is uncooperative."
"I notice it is hard to get information out of prisoners who are whipped constantly."
"He claims he doesn't know anything about the virus…or the fungus…What does that tell you, Captain?"
"It tells me what it would have told a CHILD, Warden…that he doesn't know."
"Nonsense! Of course he knows, but he is stubborn and refuses to cooperate."
"What reason does he have to lie?!"
"Who knows the way these air breathers think?"
"Is that what this is about, Warden? Is that why you left him to die at the hands of that sociopath?"
"Are you questioning my methods, Captain?"
"No, I'm questioning whether or not you remember why we abducted that boy from his home. I'm starting to think you don't know what's best for your country."
"I don't need this from you, I have work to get back to."
"What, you intend to give the boy another punishment for breathing air? I've had enough of your ignorance, Warden…I've brought this before the queen."
"You've WHAT?!"
"She wants to see you in her chambers…immediately."
"You pompous-"
"You can take your complaints to her…I'm going to go talk to your prisoner."

Was I alive? I wasn't sure…being alive shouldn't hurt so much. My back felt so torn, and so broken…I thought that it was nothing but a blazing fire. My wrists, which had been tied and bound so frequently were rubbed raw. My hair, which was normally a dark brown, was plastered to my head, now a dark red…as blood dripped from every strand. My ankles were chained to the wall of my cell and my neck had a tight collar clamped around it…the collar was attached to 5 foot long chain that stretched to the wall behind me. The Warden had gone to great lengths to ensure that I couldn't escape…or that I could possibly remove his breathing collar. It wasn't like I could escape now, was it? Even if I wanted to run, I couldn't. The Warden had finally done it. He had beaten all resistance out of me. I didn't have the nerve or the will to move. I would have lied down if my neck collar could stretch to the floor, instead, I was forced to kneel on the salty floor, my upper body suspended over the ground.
After the fight in the mess hall, the Warden had wanted to make sure that I would learn a lesson. He dragged me to the interrogation room and didn't even bother asking questions. He tied my arms to either wall and had two guards whip me one at a time…over…and over…and over…I lost count of how many lashes I got. I lost track of time and number…I was on the verge of passing out from blood loss, and even then, he only told them to keep going. I think one of them must have felt sorry for me…because there was a pause in the whippings. However, he still followed his orders, and tore my back open. I had screamed and cried until blood had soaked my own tears…and then I stopped…I had lost the energy. After that, I think the Warden had decided he had enough and tossed me in my cell…not before securing me to the wall like an animal that could bite him…but that's exactly what I was to these things wasn't it?
I had no knowledge of the time because I was seated in total darkness…there was no light or any form of time keeper to look at if there was any light. It felt like I had been hanging against the wall for days, and I hadn't had a single bite of food…I would even eat the miserable crap that this prison passed off for slop. I'd eat my own clothes if I was wearing any…but the Warden intended to freeze me as well, for I was down to only my pair of shorts….my bare back was bloodied and scared, and my chest was covered in red stains…I was ready to just give up.

There was a loud creaking sound as the metal door to my chamber opened up and a large beam of light pierced the inky darkness. I didn't bother to look up…I didn't have the strength to move my head up. I just let it hang…looking aimlessly at the ground.

"What do you want from me you sick slug?" I croaked miserably. "Come to beat me a little more?"
"By God!" That wasn't the Wardens voice…it was a different one entirely. "What has that monster done to you, Joseph?!" I tried to look up….I dared to raise my eyes to the blinding light. There, stood a figure that I remembered…but I wasn't sure if that fact comforted me or not.
"Captain?" I whispered. Before I knew it, the captian had turned on a light in the room, allowing me to see him in his military uniform, with a worried expression on his face. I would have smiled if I had the energy to do so.
"God, boy…how are you alive?!" He cried, looking at my body, which was probably quite a sight to see.
"I don't…think I am, sir." I moaned.
"I wish it hadn't come to this, kid…you must know that I had nothing to do with this."
"No…it's my fault." I whispered. "It's because I'm human, sir…I'm a subspecies…an abomination…nothing but a mindless animal…I deserve this…I deserve to be beaten. It's a miracle that I even exist."
"What the hell are you talking about?"
"Well…that's what the Warden kept saying…what he kept shouting as he pounded those words into my back." The Captain spat furiously and muttered viciously in his language, which I couldn't understand…but I'm willing to bet he was cursing. The Captain kept staring at my back, as if he expected something to jump out of it…but I knew that he was sickened by the scars. I wondered if they would ever fully heal.
"The Warden goes too far…he will be punished for this."
"Fantastic…you go give him that demotion. I can't wait for him to start scrubbing toilets." I tried to laugh, but it hurt too much. The captain didn't hear me, he was pacing around my cell.
"This is inhumane…the fact that you survived is a miracle…I wish that it didn't have to be this way."
"So, you here to get me out of here, Captain?" I asked, desperation in my voice. The captain let out a sigh and he just looked away.
"I'm sorry, Joseph…I wish that I could…but I don't have the authority to do that." I hung my head.
"Great." I groaned.

"Who gave you permission to enter the prisoners cell?!" The Captain whirled around to see the Warden standing at the door. I growled under my breath and just lowered my head, unwilling to look him in the eyes.
"What have you done to this boy?"
"Boy?" The Warden cried, "This little slug has been nothing but a pain in my side since the minute he got here. I'm treating him with more decency than I should." He then turned to look at my broken body. "Still alive are you? Have I finally beaten the fight out of your stubborn body?"
"Untie me…and I'll show you…" I growled dangerously. Yet, I knew that if he had actually untied me, the only thing that would have happened would have been the sound of a thud as I hit the ground in pain…I didn't have enough strength to stand, let alone fight. He let out an annoyed huff.
"Clearly not."

"I've had ENOUGH of this, Sedgiv!" The Captain roared. "I don't personally care what you think of humans, but you will not kill our only chance to survive!"
"What are you talking about?" I demanded. The Captain and the Warden both turned to look at me as if they were just noticing me for the first time. The Captain looked ashamed of himself, as if he had said something wrong.
"It's none of your concern, human." The Warden barked. He then rounded on the Captain. "Krisim, you overstep your bounds…you have no authority in this facility, nor do you have the right to tell me how to treat the scum I am forced to deal with."
"You will not kill that child!" The Captain suddenly took a step forward, only inches from the Warden…and he was curling his fingers. "I won't let you doom us all because of your arrogance and pride." I felt a sudden surge of pride for the Captain…and I knew that if things got ugly, he would gladly fight on my behalf. However, the Warden didn't look all that worried.
"Calm yourself, Captain Krisim; I will not kill the human." He then grinned menacingly. "I don't have to."
"What are you?..." The Captain suddenly let out a gasp in surprise. "You…you mean she…"
"Yes, you human lover…the queen has sided with my position." I looked up with a mixture of puzzlement and fear…What were they going on about? What queen? What position?
"She couldn't!" The Captain said in shock. The Warden's smile only widened.
"Oh yes, she told me herself. She has waited long enough for results and wishes to deal with the human…personally." He then turned to me with a look so cold and menacing that I wanted to back against the wall. "You best enjoy your last night alive, human…tomorrow, you will stand before the queen…to face execution."
"SHE CAN'T DO THIS!" The Captain roared.
"Are you questioning the queens judgement? Do you wish to be labeled a traitor Krisim? Cause I will GLADLY toss you into the cell down the hall." The Captain hesitantly backed off. The Warden glowed with triumph…and my hopes died.
"So…I meet the queen tomorrow?" I said hoplessly. The Warden and the Captain both nodded. "And…I'm to be executed?"
"I'm sorry, Joseph." The captain moaned.
"I'll make sure you look perfect for your final hours." The Warden laughed.
"Like hell you will," The captain suddenly barked. "I will appeal before the queen myself…I will see if I can convince her to change her mind." The warden laughed hysterically.
"Unlikely. You know how the queen never changes her mind on ANYTHING! She's not about to retake her decision at the word of a foolish captain."
"It's worth a-"

"Please…both of you…just leave me alone." I moaned out loud. The Captain stopped talking and looked at me with sad eyes. The Warden turned and walked out the door, chuckling all the way. The captain didn't leave right away. He stayed…and stared.
"Joseph…I'm sorry…I will do everything I can."
"It's better this way, Captain…I've had enough." I then lowered my head and closed my eyes, wishing myself to sleep…wondering in the back of my mind how I would be killed.
"You know, Joseph…" I didn't open my eyes, but I couldn't block out his words either. "I studied your species since I was just a hatchling…and I was always so fascinated by them. You humans have this amazing ability to adapt, grow, learn, and persevere through any trial that comes your way. I studied your history…and your discoveries. Though primitive…you are indeed a race that deserves recognition. I expected many things from you when my soldiers grabbed you out of the ocean…but the one thing I didn't expect was for you to give up."
"What do you do then, Captain?" I asked desperately, still not looking up at him. "What do you do when you are faced with death and there is no way out…no hope of escape, and no hope of release?! What does the great race of creatures known as humanity have to show for itself then?"

"…I don't know…" He admitted. "I figure that you'd surprise me…you have so far."

I looked up in wonder at his words, but he was walking out the door, closing it behind him. As the darkness set in, so did his words….

"I figured you'd surprise me…you have so far."

As his words echoed in my head, I felt my body relax. I lowered my head again and closed my eyes, bathing myself in those words…before I slipped off into slumber, I surprisingly found the energy to smile