"I never knew a voice."

-Edward Thomas, "The Unknown Bird"

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Soundtrack of the chapter: Annihilation by Arn Andersson

Media: The Prison

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Chapter Eleven: Lady in Prison

The map was starting to get crumpled in Cady's hands as she rotated it in frustration, trying to make sense of the crisscrossing arrows and symbols. The number of corridors and chambers only added to Cady's headache. She had spent the past hour trying to locate the Hall library but without much luck. Twice she walked in to the laundry room, surprising the Feorhs within each time she did so.

"Where is that goddamned library?" she cussed under her breath when she bumped into another corner. With every turn she made, she found herself getting further away from the library. After scouring four floors without much avail, Cady found herself helplessly lost in the underground level.

There wasn't anyone around, not even a single Feorh. She decided to ditch the map and try to find her way back via instinct.

She racked her brains, trying to recall where the library was located the last time Eli showed them around. She was far too distracted by the sea to remember.

The air was stiff down the damp hallways, for there were no windows for ventilation. A constant foul odor permeated the air, like droppings left stale. Cady pinched her nose, wondering why the level was abandoned by the Oracles.

Walking up a flight of stairs, she heard a wail-the similar cry she had heard before. Cady was certain that the cry wasn't the wind, for it was twice she came upon it.

She stood still, straining her ears to catch the direction of the cry. It came bounding back, clearer than ever. Cady followed it. With every step she took, it became louder. Her heart was pounding as she descended another flight of stairs that led down a dark corridor.

The Celeslights ended at the mouth of the corridor. Cady squinted, trying to see through the darkness. She finally yanked one of the torches from its stand and leapt over the stone barrier.

She nearly slipped when her feet landed in a puddle of water. The foul stench of putrefaction wafted out from the narrow space. Instinctively, her hand flew to her nose, almost dropping the Celeslight torch.

Holding out the torch before her, her eyes roamed the corridor. Water dripped down from the ceiling in slow trickles, some droplets splashing on her hair. Disgusted, she shook her head and stepped away from the leaking parts. She wheeled about with the shimmering Celeslight lofted.

What is this place?

It looked like a dungeon, where criminals and prisoners were held captive and tortured. She was certain that the dark stains splattering the walls were blood. Broken chains littered the floor and curled around the rusted bars of empty cells.

Cady continued walking. Her shoes sent up splashes of murky waters as she plodded on, the hem of her robes already dripping wet.

The Hall of Spirits was supposed to be a sacred place for Starlets, free of torture and bloodshed. But this screamed tribulation.

There was a slight rustle, and Cady froze in her tracks. Her hands immediately went out to grab the shadows, ready to advance at the sight of any threat. The shadows slid out at once, winding around her fingers.

A small moan emerged from the cell behind Cady. She whirled around, brandishing the torch before her.

Something slimy suddenly reached out of the cell bars and grabbed her by the ankle. She screeched and leapt backwards, jerking her foot out of whatever had snaked out between the bars.

A pair of wet blue eyes gleamed under the Celeslight as the hand drew back. What Cady had mistaken as a pile of earth shifted, crawling forward and wrapping its fingers around the steel bars. Its eyes were searching, running all over Cady's face and from head to toe.

Cady lowered the torch. It was a...woman. Her eyes were huge in her face, so thin and gaunt it was almost skeletal. Bruises rimmed her hands and arms like a disease. Her hair was so greasy and matted, she couldn't tell their original color.

The woman made a strangled sound as it reached out a thin hand. Chains rattled as the hand moved. It clawed in mid air, fingers opening and retracting like a snapping jaw. Cady took another step back and felt her back hit solid wall.

A raspy note escaped the woman's mouth. Cady couldn't understand her at all. Her voice seemed...destroyed. The woman attempted talking again, her jaws working furiously, but all that came out were gurgles and grunts. She finally released an exasperated cry and fell back, burying her face in her arms.

The woman looked so small, and hurt. Ugly sobs penetrated the stifling air. Despite her fear, she couldn't help but to feel sorry for her.

Cady approached her with slow, deliberate steps. She crouched before the bars.

"Hey, are you alright?"

The woman stiffened, and she raised her head. Blue eyes latched on hers, burning with silent curiosity. Thin limbs unraveled as the woman shuffled forward, almost like a spider crawling its way across the room.

When the woman's fingers brushed against hers, Cady flinched, but she didn't move. She wanted to see if the woman was insane, or would harm none. The woman shifted closer until their faces almost touched. Cady tried not to cringe from the foul odor emanating from the woman.

The woman pointed at her throat and shook her head. She then opened her mouth, revealing black stumps. Cady almost retched.

She had no tongue.

Disgust overwhelmed Cady. Whoever who did this to the woman was...heartless. Who would chain a helpless lady in a damp dungeon yet kept her alive, and took her tongue away so she couldn't speak?

Her attention fell back on the woman, who was still gazing at her. Cady closed her fingers around the woman's hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze. Her sallow skin was icy cold, and as coarse as sand. The woman emitted a sound that almost resembled a purr. With what looked like an immense effort, she brought up her other chained hand and grasped Cady's tightly.

"Who did this to you?" Cady whispered. "What kind of monster did this?"

The woman shook her head again, and rattled her chains furiously.

"What are you doing here?"

A firm hand latched itself upon Cady's shoulder and drew her back with such force, her hand was wrenched right out of the woman's grasp. The woman shrank backwards, fear registering in her eyes as they fell upon the person in the brilliant white robes.

Fury blazed in Eli Sangunis' eyes.

"What are you doing here, Cady?" he asked.

"I-I got lost," she replied at once.

"How many times have I emphasized not to go wandering on your own?" Eli snapped. "Don't think you can just walk away from responsibility like you did last time!"

Cady looked at Eli, tongue-tied. He looked absolutely infuriated, his pupils wide and dilated, and his blond hair disarrayed. He was gripping his staff so hard, it was shivering.

"Get out of here."

Without another word, Eli hauled Cady out of the corridor. Even with his limp, he was still stronger. Cady cast the woman one last glance from behind her shoulders, but she had retracted back into the darkness.

The woman's sad eyes flashed before her, and anger rose.

"Eli, stop!" Cady flung off his arm. Eli stopped and glared at Cady in astonishment.

"Why is that woman in that...filthy place?" she demanded. "It's not even fit for a pig!"

Eli stared daggers. "There are some things that shouldn't to be trifled with. This is one of them."

"This is inhumane!" Cady thundered. "Whatever she did, she doesn't deserve this kind of treatment!"

Amusement glinted in Eli's eyes. "Wow, Cady. You've only been here for a few weeks. You don't know what the Hall has been through. Textbooks are not enough. You don't have the right to pry."

Anger rose like a mad tidal wave within Cady. The woman looked so lost, and hurt. She didn't even seem capable of inflicting harm to even an ant. Yet, she was chained and abused. She jabbed a finger in Eli's chest, so hard he stumbled backwards.

"You claim to be Oracles, yet you mistreat other Starlet within the Hall. Isn't that hypocrisy? What happened to the three golden rules of Oracles?"

Eli caught Cady's hand. She tried to wrench it out of his grasp but Eli's held on with firm insistence.

"You say it like you are no Oracle."

Cady flushed. "That is not the point. As Oracles, we should forgive, love and have faith. The scrolls said that Oracles don't keep prisoners. That woman...she's hurt."

Eli's gaze softened, and he released Cady's hand. Running a hand through his hair, he now looked apologetic.

"Cady, what if I tell you she is a prisoner of the Great War?"

She felt her stomach drop to her shoes. "What?"

"That woman, she is sentenced to lifelong prison for treachery during the Great War."

Cady tried to stop her hands from trembling. That woman, she could be a Walker, she might actually know something about how everything started...even her family.

"Is she...a Walker?"

She tried not to sound too eager, but Eli seemed too distracted to catch her unease.

"No, she's an Oracle. My grandfather didn't tell me much about her, he just asked me to send her a meal a day and make sure this floor is out of bounds."

"Why don't you just kill her?"

Eli's expression was discernible. "You ask too many questions, Cady. It'll get you into trouble."

"I thought questions are good."

"Don't go all smarty-mouth on me now. This sort of questions best be kept to yourself. Even I don't know much about the prisoner, or why is she kept barely alive."

Cady was itching to ask more. A torrent of questions swam in her head, making her dizzy.

"Do you think, she would know what really happened during the Great War?"

Eli rolled his eyes and grasped her by the shoulders.

"Cady, stop."

She threw the dungeons another glance. A whimper pierced through the tension and her heart throbbed. She exhaled.

"Alright, I'm sorry. I was just looking for the library."

He released his grip on Cady and nosed the tip of his staff at the stairs. "Library is that way."

"Oh, okay." The previous fury they flung at each other had dissipated, replaced by a cloud of awkwardness. Eli coughed and Cady shifted her foot.

"I guess...I best be on my way now," said Cady.

"Cady." Eli's voice caught her as she turned to leave. "Promise me you won't come down here again."

She smiled. "I promise." Cady then left with Eli following her closely, probably making sure that she won't head back down to the forbidden area.

Once out of Eli's direct sight, Cady crossed her fingers.

Sorry, Eli. I must know what truly happened during the Great War.

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A/N

Dun dun dun! A mysterious prisoner has crawled her way to the scene! Any theories about her? Or why Eli is so mad when Cady discovered the cell?

As usual, do perform some magic and turn that star to gold and drop me your thoughts!

Subway Sandwiches,

Stef