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Zack
I’d found semiclean rags in the toolshed and grabbed a few more syringes while I was there. Not that I planned to use them on the prisoners like I was supposed to. Figured they might come in handy later against some werewolf. When I had returned from my errand, I hid the poison in a corner under the clean rags I had procured, knowing David wouldn’t do any organizing or cleaning.
He’d grown bored of his victim and asked me to take the limp body away and get him a new one. I yanked the guy out of the chair by his arm and he slammed to the concrete floor. Inwardly, I cringed at adding insult to injury on the poor guy. But I couldn’t let David think I cared about any of the prisoners. When I was too far from David for him to sense the energy emitted when speaking telepathically, I shortened my steps for extra time to talk to the guy.
Listen carefully because I don’t have much time. Might not seem as though I’m on your side, especially when you hear me help the psycho torture the next guy. And the next. But you’re going to have to trust me on this. Soon, my friends will come and we’ll wage war and overthrow Mortimer. With still more to say to the guy, I slowed my pace as we neared his cell. I need as many of you guys as possible to be alert and ready to fight. So I’m going to pretend to dose you and then you have to pretend to be unconscious. If you’re not convincing and I get caught, I won’t be able to help any of you. Got it? I opened the door to his cell and dragged him inside.
Got it, he answered. But they only feed us once a week, never enough to fully heal or give us strength. None of us will be much good to you unless we get something more substantial.
I crawled halfway into the cell to shove him in, which left my top half out of the camera’s view, then I dug a syringe from my pocket. If I try to smuggle in too much food, I’ll get caught. I’ll do what I can though. Does David rotate his victims or do you think he’ll come back to you soon?
Depends on his mood. He usually gets around to me every couple weeks.
I didn’t want any more horror stories but I had to ask. Will anyone else get you out of here for anything?
No. I haven’t seen anyone other than David in...I’ve lost track of time. Maybe four or five years.
I couldn’t have heard him correctly. Years? How long have you been here? As soon as the question was out, I regretted it. I preferred not having that kind of information. Too disturbing, which distracted me from what I needed to do.
Since I was a little kid. It’s almost all I’ve ever known.
He looked around twenty-five or thirty years old. But since we didn’t age, I couldn’t help him figure out how long he’d been there. I couldn’t let myself imagine the horrors he’d been through. But the chances were good David wouldn’t get back to this guy before the battle. I stuffed a couple syringes in his pocket. This might come in handy when the fight comes. Make sure no one sees it. Don’t forget, you’re supposed to be unconscious now. After banging the gate shut, I set the lock and sprinted to the next cell.
My name’s Benjamin.
Nice to meet you, Benjamin. I opened the neighboring cell, observing the shape-shifter a moment before opening the door.
“Jack, what’s taking so long?” David’s voice echoed through the dungeon.
“How do I know this new one isn’t awake and ready to ambush me?” I called out.
“You don’t.” David snickered. “Just kidding. They’re dosed every two or three hours. We feed them once a week so they heal slowly. Even if one starts to wake up, he’ll be too weak to fight you.”
“Who doses them?” I asked, unlocking the door. I latched onto a foot and hefted the guy over my shoulder, then headed around the corner to David’s office.
“I’ve been doing it. That’s your job now and I can do more important things.” He pointed at the table and I laid the guy on it. “In fact, you should do a round now.”
His “more important things” was devoting more time to watching others suffer. I glanced up at the white circular clock high on the wall. “It’s dinnertime. Aren’t you hungry? I was wondering if I shouldn’t get us some food. Maybe I can dose them when I get back.”
“Actually, I’m starving.” David studied his next victim, then eyed the surgical tray. No doubt pondering how he could inflict the most pain. “Go to the cafeteria and bring me something to eat.”
“Anything in particular?” I asked, inching out of the office.
“Whatever looks good. Don’t forget soda. With ice.”
“Yes, sir. Be right back.” I advanced down the corridor, anxious to get food for the prisoners. Colin, what’s the guy’s name who does security with you. Raul? And where is he now?
Yeah, that’s Raul. He left for the cafeteria a few minutes ago.
Perfect. I picked up speed, locking the door to the dungeon and sprinting along the corridor. My entire plan depended on getting this next part right. I couldn’t screw this up. But what if Raul was too old for me to compel? Colin, how old is Raul?
I’m not sure. Other than the king, no one here is more than a hundred or two. The older werewolves are sent on scouting missions. The young stay behind.
Of course, because the more powerful werewolves needed to protect themselves out there all alone. Mortimer could fend for himself but if he needed help, the sheer number of werewolves in town made up for their lack of strength.
I burst through the door of the cafeteria, my eyes scanning for Raul. The food line wrapped all the way around the spacious room. I’d be there forever and every moment I wasted in line was time I couldn’t do what I needed to do. Relief filled me when I spotted Raul near the front, only a handful of people from the food. I headed his way.
You’re going to let me in, I commanded Raul. “Thanks for holding my place.” I slipped in and he let me.
“Did you just take cuts?” growled the guy behind Raul.
I focused on him. Back off. My gaze traveled to the guy behind him and the next several in line. All of you are loyal to me now. You’ll answer all my questions and help me anyway you can. And you’ll go along with whatever I want without questioning it. When the war breaks out soon, you won’t fight my friends. And you won’t remember this conversation.
The line moved and only three people were ahead of me now. Raul, does anyone other than you and Colin monitor the cameras?
No.
I inched forward. How often does the king check in with you?
Maybe once a day.
Does he ever inspect the video footage personally?
Never. I don’t believe His Majesty is sane enough to think that clearly. He believes he’s too powerful and can’t be conquered. He also knows we’ll do exactly as he asks, or we will be eliminated.
Wow, even his own people didn’t think much of him. As soon as this conversation is over, you will forget every word. You will be loyal to me and fight for me. You won’t be able to tell anyone about this or me, but you’ll remember what you’re supposed to do. Got it?
Yes.
When I tell you to disable the cameras, you will do it. And you will report to Mortimer as if the cameras are working normally. Understand?
Yes.
Good. How many guards on the roof?
Usually six, one on each corner and two in the middle. They’ll do a twelve-hour shift and then the other crew will come in and replace them.
I stepped forward, eyeing the buffet. What time does the shift change?
Noon and midnight.
Is one of them in charge?
Keith runs the day and Giles comes on at midnight.
Thank you. I grabbed three plates and began loading them up with tons of meat and bread. You won’t report any of my activities to anyone, no matter what you see on the cameras. Report nothing about the prisoners except that they’ve been silent and asleep. I redirected my attention to all the werewolves in a ten-foot radius. When strangers arrive and get inside, you’ll forget everything as soon as you see it, as if it never happened. Same goes for any prisoners that might get out of their cells.
Setting myself up so any of us could wander the mansion and grounds was only a tiny part of the battle. We still had a whole village of werewolves to overpower before this was done.
And I could get caught at any moment.
