120 CHAPTER 119 TRUTHS

It was all void, endless and eternal. Darkness was his companion; the foe he was forced to spend the rest of his days with. But the passing times were playing tricks on him, making him lean on the shadows for comfort, and seeking their solace even though he detests them. How long has it been? He searched his mind and tried to recall, but the vagueness of his memory made him hiss out the frustration through his teeth. The darkness was getting into him. He could feel their ugly hands slipping into his skins and bones. That was the only explanation for the spinning memory he was having at the moment.

However bad the situation felt, he knew deep down that he deserved it. Right. This place was for people like him, and he deserves it. His only regret at the moment was that they had not locked him up the very first time they saw him. Not that he cared, he justified his action himself and would save Jeff again if the need arose. The regent and the entire people in the council could do their worst. It matters little. In a weeks' time, they had said. He was going to face trial in a week's time, and they were going to judge his actions in front of the entire community. They were going to analyze every detail carefully and decides afterward if he was worthy enough to remain with the community or not.

Alex snorted. The chains rattled with the night as he hugged his knees. Despite his plea, they had bound his hands and feet to the wall as if he was Lord Vortex himself. 

That the cell was not freezing was a blessing in itself. It would keep his mind from bothering with the cold and darkness. Although the loneliness and not having to see the sun was already struggling for his sanity, but he was sure he still had a few days to go before he runs totally mad.

Madness. The words resounded in his ears as if he had spoken them out loud. There had been tales of people who remained in the black hole for longer than two weeks. Stories have it that they were totally out of wit when they were freed and were excommunicated from the people as they become a liability instead of the opposite. The truth to this story was farfetched, but it had become so popular among the people that everybody now believes it. No one had even paused for a moment to ask the council if such an event ever occurred.

He unlocked his hands from his knees and was about to brood what time of the day it was when a loud explosion made the thought evaporate from his memory. 

Giving his ears to attention, Alex listened again. There was no sound outside the door, or at least he thought so, for they had locked him underground, some few feet away from the apex.

Something rained down on him from the ceiling. The feel was rough to touch, and it took some time for him to realize that it was sand. The explosion must have gone out again, it was hard to tell for darkness spread through everywhere.

As he sat in wonder, he heard the clinking of metals, followed by a heavy shift on the bolt which he guessed must be the first door. A cracking sound followed, blaring the darkness with their noise.

Alex searched the distance where the noise was coming from, but even as piercing as his gaze could be, it was difficult to see through the cloud of darkness and oblivion. What day was it? He asked himself. It must be time already. Maybe today was the day of his trial. The day when he will stand before the council and prove the innocence of his action.

He shifted his weight from the stiffness of his buttock. There were no words in his mouth. He had wished for the trail day to come and save him from this darkness, but he had not expected it so suddenly. If the council was going to throw him into prison or kill him, then he could have at least given them a verdict on his actions. Not that they would listen to him—for the council hardly listens to anyone who had been thrown into the dark hole—but he was going to try, even now that the words were not forthcoming. 

"Alex" Someone called.

Alex lifted his head sharply in the direction. A beeping sound resounded, and then the protesting voice of the door echoed as it flared open.

"Alex," The voice said again, this time standing in the doorway, with his Sol-K resting like a cane on his right hand.

Alex held his hands over his face, looking away from the fast white light which was flushing into the room. He couldn't place a face on the voice, but it sounded familiar, and he was sure he knew who it was.

"Nim?" He called, and the sound of his own voice made him want to smile. It had been long since he last spoke and for a time, he was sure his voice would have faded with the darkness.

"My God, look at what they did to you," Nimrod exclaimed and his footfall hurried into the room, echoing on the empty wall. 

"Nim? Is that really you?" Alex asked. Nimrod did not answer. He had walked closer to where Alex sat and had wrapped his hands around him. Alex, on the other hand, did not protest or tried to push the boy away. He melted in the warmness instead, glad to have a friend in this vast darkness.

"Let's get you out of here," Nimrod pulled away hastily. He was panting heavily. No, it was a whiz, and Alex could tell by the urgency that hung on the boy's shoulders.

A light beeped with the Sol-K and the chains on Alex's hands rammed with the concrete floor as they fell off.

"Nim, what happing?" Alex rubbed his hands. He had never been so relieved in his life. If the rattling of the chains had not been a constant reminder, he would have sworn that they were part of his hands. 

Lifting up his eyes, which had adjusted with the light and the shadows, he frowned when he saw the looks on Nimrod's face. They were swollen and until they started towards the door, did Alex notice the tears streaming down from his cheeks.

"What happened? Why are you crying?"

"Crying?" Nimrod wiped his eyes, sounding surprised and sheepish. "Something must have entered my eyes I guess,"

Alex walked out of the cell first, but his eyes did not leave Nimrod for a second. The boy was not only swollen with sorrow but also smelled like a barbecue, roasted together with spiced curry. All was not well, and he knew it. The downcast looks Nimrod was wearing, said that something bad must have happened.

"Nim," Alex held the boy by the elbow, drawing him away from the stairs and pushing him beside one of the pillars. Nimrod was confused at a time, but his bright eyes widened when he saw a flame card Keeper, standing some paces away from them.

He remained silent for hours, until the flame card Keeper hummed and beeped, before walking up the stairs and out of sight.

"A flame card Keeper?" Alex grunted as they walked out of their hiding place, "What on earth is a flame card doing here?"

"I was afraid you would find out one way or the other." Nimrod said, avoiding his eyes, "But you deserve to know. And I must tell you."

"What are you talking about?"

Nimrod folded his Sol-K and explained to Alex everything that had happened in the last few days. He didn't omit anything, even the part about his mother being an impostor.

"I had my suspicion," Alex said thoughtfully when Nimrod finished, "But I was not sure,"

"Well" Nimrod shrugged, "This settles one thing. We now know who our real enemy is."

"Sure," Alex said, but his face creased almost immediately with more worries, "What about the others?"

Nimrod bit his under lips, as if unsure if to say what's in his mind, "I don't think anyone is alive who is not a slave at the moment. Bodies littered the entrance of this cell on my way here. The Keepers were out for a kill, but I think they have started taking prisoners."

"Anabel is going to pay," Alex closed his eyes, letting the anger settle. He could see the face of the woman. The way she laughs and jokes as if the world had just made her bed on the rainbow. It was hard to see the devil within. So damn hard.

"She certainly is. But I don't think that would be today." 

"What?" Alex asked, holding himself to keep the anger that was trying to surface.

"We need to stay alive, Alex. We need to get out of this place before the Keepers raise this place to dust."