The Collected

CHAPTER 31

Nate barely parted his eyelids as the door to his cell opened.

Janus entered, carrying something. “I bring water for you.”

“Go away,” Nate whispered.

A laugh, deep and scornful.

There was a clacking sound Nate couldn’t place, followed by a moment of nothing, then pain, everywhere pain, as a bucketload of water splashed down on the exposed wounds across his back.

Arcing his whole body, Nate screamed. “You bastard!”

He wanted nothing more than to jump up and slam a fist into Janus’s face, but his legs refused to move off the bed.

More laughter as the pain echoed in waves, each as strong as the last. Nate cringed as he tried to force the pain away. He could feel another scream of agony growing in his belly, but he refused to release it.

“Get. Out!” he managed.

“You want more water, you let me know,” Janus said. “Oh, and even if you are tempted, I would not lie on my back if I were you.”

There was a final bout of laughter as the man left and the door closed.

Sleep. I just need to sleep, Nate thought, desperately clawing at oblivion.

But as soon as his mind started to relax, there was another scream from down the hall as Janus played his water trick on one of Nate’s cellmates.

Nate slowly moved his hand into his pants pocket and gripped the bolt, as if it were a talisman that could give him the power he needed. Surprisingly, doing so seemed to relieve a bit of the pain, and he finally felt sleep begin to sweep over him.

As it did, he thought he heard Liz’s voice again.

“Keep your head clear, and always be ready. It’s the only way you’ll make it.”

“I love you,” he mouthed soundlessly. “I love…”