23

CHAPTER 23

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Elena opened her eyes to pitch black darkness. She saw a patch of light falling at the end of a long hallway, engulfed in darkness. After sometimes she realized that she was looking through many iron bars which hindered her view. She began to wonder as to where she was and how did she get there. But thoughts were slipping through her mind.

She spotted a figure walking towards her in the darkness. That’s when she began to recall some things. The strike on her head while she was heading out of the prison entrance, numerous men coming to pick her up while she was in those last moments of consciousness. However, she knew that she was missing out on some shocking detail that she couldn’t recall.

The mysterious figure squeaked open the caged gate, came closer to Elena who now realized that her hands and feet were tied. The person sprinkled some fire of dust on the candle he was holding. Elena gasped in horror as something struck her memory like a hammer. The man was her father.

Meanwhile, Newark had reached the 1000 count; the sheep had given up but Newark just didn’t want to stop. While he was placidly headed towards the 1200 mark, someone knocked on the door. Newark was a little hesitant to stop his count. The wine still controlled him, but he didn’t forget to put on his hood before opening the door.

A man stood by the door with a crooked smile, “Hey oldie! The king wants you to preach religion to those rotting prisoners! Make them people of fire too! Go right away and feel like home! We prison folks are enjoying a feast in the royal hall! ”. The man ran back straight ahead and disappeared. Newark could see the thirst of royal wine in his eyes.

Newark headed out carefully, scanning the surroundings which lay deserted in response to an offering of free food and drinks, being held in the royal hall. The sound of bagpipes and drums were echoing from somewhere. After spotting the filthiest structure around, Newark headed towards it and found it to be the prison. The drunk, wine-thirsty man was right, the place was empty. Newark eased out a little as he managed to smile under his hood.

He headed up a circular stair case and came to a long passage, with many prisons on its left side. Torches were lit on the right side, guiding the long path beside the prisons. Newark couldn’t see anything inside the dark prisons; all he could hear were whispers and snores echoing through the emptiness. Once Newark reached the middle of the passage, he suddenly pulled the hood over his head.

Moments later, he heard a kid from some prison, “Mommy! Mommy! Look! It’s the good-for-nothing farmer boy!”

“Yeah right!” Newark cried.

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