Page 49 of Steel & Thunder
Clearly unsatisfied with my lack of an answer, Ironstorm turns to orc #2. “Thank you for coming to get me. The evening is a little fuzzy, but I can help fill out your arrest report with what I can remember—”
“Actually, I’m not sure an arrest is really necessary,” the more well-spoken orc cuts him off. It’s not? “Orim and I are the only ones to see him. Perhaps it would be better if you took him home and handled this yourself, sir.”
The two of them share a look that I can’t quite read before Ironstorm gives him a nod, straightening his posture. “Yes, I think you may be correct. Deputy Rockfang, Officer Broadedge, thank you again. I shall see you back here in a few days.” Both orcs salute him before he turns to me.
What just happened?
“Come.” He grabs me by the shoulder and turns me around to remove the manacles. Then after grabbing me by the collar like a dog scruffing a pup, I am led out of the room and out of the building. The few orcs I see on our way out don’t seem to notice us. As we start the walk home, I can’t help myself, needing to know what exactly is going to happen.
“Wha—” I am yanked to a stop and turned, an angry orc in my face.
“Not one word, David,” Ironstorm growls at me before pushing me down the road.
Getting arrested might have been the safer option.
Chapter Thirteen
The walk back to the house is icy. With his hand still tight on my shirt, I can feel the rage radiating off of Ironstorm in waves. My mind scrambles to think of an excuse, a way out of this, an escape route, but I know anything I come up with is only going to make things worse. I’m as good as dead.
When we arrive, he opens the door and roughly pushes me inside. I find my balance before I land flat on my face, standing against the back of the couch, unsure of what to do or where to go. Ironstorm slams the door behind him, angrily stomping his way past me. He paces, running his hand down his face before finally turning his gaze to me.
“I—”
“Why would you do this, David? How could you possibly think that—” He cuts himself off, going silent for a moment. “Wrong question. How did you do this?”
“Uh, I uh...” Thinkthinkthink.
His eyes wander around the room, the fireplace, the bookcases, the couch, before finally landing on the half-full mug on the side table. His eyes go wide, flitting back and forth between me and the beer as he walks over to pick it up. He brings it to his face, inspecting the amber liquid still inside. Wordlessly, he walks it to the kitchen and grabs a small white towel. Standing over the sink, he holds the towel in one hand and slowly pours the remaining beer into it. When it’s empty, he stretches the fabric of the towel as he inspects it closely. I know exactly what he’s looking for. I really should have looked for a mortar...
“You drugged me?!” he roars, throwing the wet towel into the sink and quickly crossing the room to me.
“I’m sorry!” I cry out, panicking. “I wasn’t—”
“Speak again and I will gag you.” He clamps his hand over my mouth, staring me down menacingly. “There is nothing I want to hear from you.”
Grabbing me by the shirt collar, Ironstorm walks me down the hallway, opening the spare room on the left. He pushes me inside and shoves me at the empty bed onto my stomach. With my arms still cuffed behind me, I have no chance of fighting back. I turn onto my side so I can look at him. The room is dark, the light from the doorway blocked by the silhouette of his body.
“You will remain here until I decide what to do with you.” He sounds disgusted with me, and for some reason, that knowledge makes me feel even worse. He shuts the door without another word, the sound of the lock clicking signaling I won’t be going anywhere.
I look at the door, but there’s no point in checking. I roll onto my stomach and climb the rest of the way onto the bed. Might as well get comfortable since I don’t think I’ll be leaving anytime soon. Not that it’s easy with steel manacles cuffed tightly to my wrists. I lay there in the dark room alone. My mind can’t help but compare my current situation with that of my friends, though from what I remember their sleeping arrangements were a lot more comfortable than mine are tonight.
Eventually, my thoughts turn to Ironstorm. What exactly did he mean by “decide what to do with” me? My stomach starts to twist itself into knots thinking about what he might be planning. The last time he punished me, he went out of his way to take it easy on me. Can’t imagine that will be the case this time. No way is he just spanking me for this. Maybe he’ll whip me, or just beat me to a pulp. What if he breaks my leg because I keep trying to run? At some point, before I start hyperventilating, I pass out.
It’s dark in the forest, the leaves on the trees rustling in the wind. From the ground, I can see the moon, large and full in the sky. A twig snaps in the distance, and I watch as a large black wolf slinks through the trees. It looks featureless in the darkness, all except its red eyes: two hot points of light surrounded by an inky, canine-shaped void. As it approaches, it feels like those eyes are burning a hole straight through to my soul. Hungry.
I wake up from the strange dream to more darkness. Whatever sleep I did manage to get was fitful. My arms are sore, still cuffed behind my back and kept in this weird position all night. I also need to pee. I have no idea what time it is, but the thin strip of light coming from under the door tells me that it’s at least the next day. I hear the faint sounds of movement on the other side of the door, but it’s too far for me to pick out anything specific.
I’m just about to try passing out again when I hear the sound of the lock being opened, the shadows of two feet visible under the door. I squint when the door opens, my eyes not used to the bright daylight. Ironstorm stands in the doorway, a plate in one hand and a cup in the other. He moves near the bed, placing both items on the small table next to me before reaching for me on the bed. He walks me to the bathroom, standing me in front of the toilet. After I relieve myself and he pulls my pants back up, he walks me back to the room, pushing me back on the bed before turning to leave again.
“Could you uncuff my hands?” My voice is rough from not being used. I’m not sure he hears me until I see him stop. “Please.”
He sighs but turns around and walks back to me. He doesn’t look happy, but I’m not sensing any specific annoyance over my request. I roll onto my stomach to give him access to my wrists, the sound of keys jangling followed by the lock on the manacles clicking. I roll onto my back and sit up so that I can face him.
“Thank you,” I respond softly, the threat of being gagged still hanging in the air. He says nothing as he turns and exits the room, locking the door behind him.
It’s difficult in the dark, but I manage to carefully feel for the plate and cup in the dark without spilling anything. Nothing more than bread and water. Wonderful. At least he’s still feeding me, for now. I finish eating fairly quickly and push the empty cup and dish back onto the table. Without anything else to do, I lay back, trying to think about anything other than my impending doom or the fact that Adam and everyone else have probably already been taken to the work camp. I wonder what Mike’s up to? I don’t even remember what day it is. Terraday? He’s probably in class right now, studying his spell books or something.
At some point, I doze off again, reawakening when I hear the door being opened again. I sit up a little faster than I need to, the both of us staring at each other silently for a few moments. He steps back, crooking two fingers at me and moving back down the hall, expecting me to follow.
