My Trip... To Nowhere - Chapter Twenty-One

“To think that you lot are so close to escaping…” My Other-Half said, with his arms folded across his chest, and one foot tapping the ground slowly, almost rhythmically.

I clenched my fists. There were too many of them to fight off. I glanced over at Rio. His facial expression was stony, but determined. I looked back at the clones. How many more of them are out there? There is no way we could get out of this.

“I suggest you come with us quietly, with no objection.” My Other-Half said slowly, his eyes locked onto mine, as if calculating me. “Or you will regret it.”

In the corner of my eye I saw a few heads whip around to look at me. I could feel my cheeks warming up, and was grateful that it was dark, so no one could see. I felt Nicky's eyes burn a hole through me, and I was not able to return her gaze. I turned to look at Rio, at the same time he turned to look at me. In the light of the flames from the torch, his eyes seemed to gleam with intelligence. I studied his expression carefully.

“Well?” My Other-Half said almost impatiently. His voice seemed distance as I thought about it.

Rio nodded at me, with no facial expression. I looked away. There was no way Rio would give away how he was feeling. Then I caught a glance of the flame-lit torch. I threw a glance at Rio and saw a very, very slight smile.

“Fine,” I said in a low voice.

“What?” Nicky said out loud, clearly shocked. I couldn’t look at her.

“You’re giving up already?” she asked me.

Please. I silently prayed. Just go along with this.

“Tom-”

“Nicky, be quiet.” Rio said calmly, in a low voice.

“But-”

“Please, Nicky.” I said quietly.
My Other-Half smiled. He smiled mockingly, and said, “Oh… how very cute.”

I glared at him, as he continued, smirking, “I’ll make sure you two will be in separate cells.”

There was a pause as me and him glared at each other. I felt so small. Like I was the prey – like we all were the prey, and him alone was the hunter. The hunter who had his prey ready on his plate, holding a fork and prodding each of us, prodding me the hardest, not eating us just yet, but will be very soon. We were all powerless against him.

He cocked his head onto one side, and said, “Take them.”

He stood where he was, and watched as the clones – one for each of us – bound our hands with rope. I did not attempt to struggle, and neither did Rio. But Nicky managed to elbow the clone binding her in the ribs. He winced, but took a firmer grip on her arm, bending it far back. Her face contorted with pain, but she let no noise escape her lips. She looked up at me. There was a moment where our eyes met. I was about to smile reassuringly at her, but she lowered her eyes to the ground and looked away. Downhearted, I looked away to see my Other-Half studying me. His eyes bore into mine, as if trying to read my thoughts, but I stared back, cold and defiant.

He nodded in satisfaction when the clones were finished with binding us. He turned and began to walk away, leading the way. The clone guarding Rio pushed him forwards, so him and Rio walked ahead of us prisoners. Richard’s guard shoved him forwards to walk about two metres behind him. Everyone else was forced to walk ahead of me, apart from Nicky. I glanced back to see her walking behind me.

So then, we walked, in a line, in this tunnel, with only a few flame-lit torches being held at the front, and the back. The clone guarding me and Rio were also holding torches.





TO BE CONTINUED...

My Trip.... To Nowhere - Twenty

I spun around, cracking my neck as I did.

Rio stood up suddenly.

Nicky and Allison gasped.

It was dark from where the voice came from.

We couldn’t see anyone.

“Who's there?” Rio demanded.

I slowly got up to my feet, and my mind started racing. Did the voice sound familiar?

More footsteps.

Footsteps getting closer.

A figure appeared, getting closer.

Behind him, a few others.

As he came nearer we had a full view of him.

I gaped at him.

“Good to see you again… Tom.” He smiled at me.

I stared in disgust and anger at him.

I can't believe it… I had completely forgotten about him. We were so into looking out for Rio’s Other-Half, but now… mine came along.

I glanced behind him. He had several others behind him.

I stepped back to stand beside Rio, and looked at him. He was looking at me, clearly with the same question, “What now?”

I felt helpless. To be surrounded by these other clones… and yet to be so near to escaping…

I looked around at Allison and Richard. I saw fear.
I glanced at Nicky and rested my gaze on her. She looked up at me. In her eyes I did not see defeat… she looked at me in confidence… as if she knew I would come up with something.

I looked away and to my Other-Half. He grinned jeeringly at me.

I will not let Nicky or the rest down.

I have to come up with something.

Fast.


TO BE CONTINUED…

My Trip To Nowhere.... - Chapter Nineteen

I stifled a gasp.

No… that can’t be… this must be his Other-Half…

“I’ve got some matches, where are you?”

But… didn’t I knock him out?

“Tom?” this time someone else said it.

I could feel my heart pounding so hard, and I did not dare to breathe. I prayed for Nicky and Josh to stay asleep, or if they woke up, to not move or make a sound.

Suddenly, someone tripped, and fell over me.

“Ow!” she went.

“Oof!” I went.

“Found him!” she went.

“Quiet Allison!”

“Whats going on?” I heard Nicky say in the dark.

“Oh, so you’re here too.” said a relieved voice.

“Rio?” Nicky said. Her voice sounded shocked.

“Tom, where are you? We’ve got matches to light the torch.” Rio said.

“Is it really you?” I managed to ask.

“Of course.” I could picture him smiling slightly in the dark.

“But how…?”

“I’ll explain once there's light.” He said firmly.

I stood up, holding the torch. “I’m… here.” I said.

I heard shuffles, and then I heard the strike of the match. I saw Rio’s face as he lit the torch I held.

The tunnel-like passageway was at once lit with the torch.

“But how did you –” I started.

“I thought you were –” Nicky started.

Rio held one hand up. “I’ll explain. Then you guys will.”

Josh sat up, and looked at us blearily. “Wazzgoinon?” He mumbled.

“How about we all sit together?” Rio said.

I nodded numbly and went to sit opposite Nicky, and he went to sit next to her. I looked around and saw Allison and Richard joining us. He grinned at me when he saw me looking at him, and I looked away at Rio expectedly.

“We – Allison, Richard and I – were caught by my Other-Half, and we were imprisoned.”

I nodded.

“Richard and Allison were knocked out by the guards who surrounded us. We fought to get away, but we were outnumbered. We were dragged into a room, and we were locked in.”

“Then how did you get away?” I asked.

Rio smiled his small smile. “When Richard and Allison finally came around, we planned to somehow trick one of the guards who would usually come in to check on us to let us out. We complained that we needed to stretch out legs because we were so stiff.”

I raised an eyebrow.

Richard chuckled. “Yeah, it was a lame excuse, but hey he fell for it.”

“So we were let out, then we imprisoned that guard into the cell we were locked in.”

I smiled to myself. We had done this before.

“And when we walked out of the room, we walked into another room…” he frowned slightly, and said, “…where we found our Other-Halves sprawled on the floor, knocked out cold.” He looked at me.

I grinned. “Yeah, that was us. We were caught too by your Other-Half, and unfortunately Richard’s and Allison’s Other-Halves were with him.”

“Interesting battle” Rio said, smiling.

I shrugged. “We managed to get away, and steal the keys off your Other-Half.” I glanced over at Nicky who was smiling at me.

“You should have seen him,” she said.

Rio grinned at me. “So then we made out of the room, and… well, ended up finding you guys.”

We all sat together in silence for a few seconds, smiling at each other in relief. I suddenly felt safer. We had Rio back. And Richard. And Allison. We were all back together. But then -

“A very interesting story you got there… Rio”


TO BE CONTINUED…

My Trip To Nowhere... - Chapter Eighteen

“More toast, Tom?”

“No thanks, mom”

“How about some cereal?”

“No thanks.”

That’s my mom; always giving me a heavy breakfast every morning before school. It was so bright and so lovely here, with the sun pouring in through the windows, and I could even hear birds twittering outside. My little brother, Darren, knocked over his cereal bowl. I smiled. I missed this… then I thought to myself, ‘miss this?’ I frowned. Something happened… something happened that made me miss all this. What had happened? My mind seemed so… blank. I tried to think, but everytime a thought crosses my mind, it disappears. It felt so weird. I reached my hand out to pick up my glass of juice. The sunlight fell across the kitchen table, and as I held my glass of juice I didn’t feel the warmth of the sunlight. But I didn’t think much of it. I sipped it, and then put the glass of juice down. Strange… I looked at it. It tasted like… nothing. I glanced around at everyone. They all looked slightly blurred. So… unreal. I rubbed my eyes.

“Tom”

I looked up at mom. But she was busy buttering her toast.

“Tom!”

I looked at dad. He was deep into his newspaper. I glanced at Darren. No… it wasn’t any of them who spoke.

“Wake up!”

I felt myself being shaken. I closed my eyes, and I felt I was leaning against something cold and hard. I did not want to lose the image of eating breakfast with my family. I groaned, and jerked awake. I opened my eyes.

I was back at the dim tunnel-like passageway. At once I felt cold, and stiff. It took me a while to remember where and why I was here. I blinked, and looked at Josh who was in front of me.

“Finally,” he said. “Here,” and he handed me the torch. “It's your turn to keep watch.”

I tried to get up to a proper sitting position. My back was so stiff after lying against the hard and cold wall. The image of eating breakfast with my family was still intact in my mind. I slowly stood up, and stretched. My neck clicked, and I stifled a groan. My body felt so stiff. I turned to see Nicky in a sitting position with her back leaning against the wall. She looked so pale. I bent over and touched her arm. And she was cold. I hesitated, then I took my jumper off, leaving my t-shirt on which was underneath. I draped it over Nicky, and made my way to the opposite wall with the burning torch in one hand. I settled down opposite Nicky and Josh, who lay asleep.

I sat.

And I thought.

I looked over at Nicky.

What seemed to be hours passed by.

Something rustled in the dark.

I froze.

I pricked my ears, and started to listen carefully.

Footsteps.

Light, cautious footsteps coming closer.

I blew out the torch in my hand.

I waited.

“Gee… that was very clever of you Tom. Now how are we supposed to see in the dark?”



TO BE CONTINUED…

My Trip.... To Nowhere - Chapter Seventeen

It was a long and restless journey to… where? I had no clue where to go, and I had no idea what to expect when we get there. But I did know that we have to escape. Escape. The word escape had crossed my mind so many times. It now seems to mean nothing. I shook my head, trying to rid my thoughts.

We carried on walking; walking through this long, dim passageway, lit with not many burning torches on the walls. Josh took one and held it, making it easier for us to see where we were going. I was supporting Nicky, who was limping slightly. Josh walked by her other side. We were quiet, most of the time, apart from times when one of us would say, “It’s so dim here.” Or, “I wish I was home.” Don’t we all wish we were home…

My mind seemed numb as we walked. I noticed the grey walls… the plain grey stone walls. I even noticed the cracks and missing tiles on the floor. I took them all in numbly. Then, Nicky slumped over me.

“Tom.” She said; her voice was low. I looked at her. I noticed she looked very tired, and was in a bit of pain.

I stopped walking and held her. Josh paused, a little way ahead.

“Tom, we need to rest.” She whispered.

“We can't” I said softly. “We have to go on. Who knows, they could catch up to us anytime.”

“Who's ‘they’?” Nicky asked softly. I noticed her eyes were half-closed, and she leaned more against me.

“The bad people who locked us here, Nicky.” I explained gently. I tried to hoist her back up, but suddenly her body was heavy, now that she was not supporting herself. Then her eyes widened slightly.

“The people who took my brother…” she murmured, her voice trailing off.

I paused.

I waited.

I thought.

“Nicky…” I said softly.

“My brother.” She whispered, and I saw a tear drop from her cheek.

Then it clicked.

“Rio… is your brother.”

She didn’t say anything, but buried her head against my shoulder. I heard her cry. I looked up at Josh bewilderedly. I had never been in a position where a girl cries on me, and now I am in one, I didn’t know what to do. I held her whilst she cried, patting her back every now and again. It seemed a long time, till Josh said,

“Nicky’s right. We should rest for a bit.”

I looked up at him.

“One of should keep watch while the two sleep.” He looked at me. “I’ll keep watch first.”

I was relieved. All of a sudden, it felt my legs were heavy. I made my way to the side of a wall, and sat down, with Nicky beside me. She leaned against me.

“Everything's going to be alright.” I whispered.

At least, I hoped.



TO BE CONTINUED…

My Trip To Nowhere... - Chapter Sixteen

“Tom! Tom, are you OK?” I heard Nicky ask me urgently.

I grunted something unintelligent. I stood up straight, facing Rio’s Other-Half.

“So what’s the plan now?” I heard someone say in my ear. I turned my head slightly to see Josh.

I glanced past Rio’s Other-Half’s shoulder. The door was just a few metres away. I remembered it was locked. I glanced at Rio’s Other-Half and saw they key dangling from a chain from his pocket. I nodded to the door’s direction.

“But it’s locked.” Josh hissed in my ear.

“That’s why I’m going for Rio’s Other-Half.” I hissed back.

I felt Nicky come to my other side.

I was still aware that Richard, Allison and Rio were edging closer.

“I’ll go for Allison.” Nicky said.

“That leaves Richard to me then…” Josh said.

I took a step forward, away from them two. The Other-Halves were standing opposite us, blocking our only chance of escape. I faced Rio’s Other-Half. I looked to my right to see Josh facing Richards Other-Half, and I glanced to my right to see Nicky facing Allison’s Other-Half.

Suddenly, I heard a cry from Josh. Distracted, I turned to look at him to see Richard charging to him. Josh was charging back at him. I turned back to look at Rio’s Other-Half to see just in time his fist aiming for my head. I ducked. He swung his other fist to me and I dodged that.

“You can’t run!” he snarled, and stepped towards me.

I eyed the key dangling from his pocket. I heard a shriek, and turned to look at my right. Rio’s Other-Half, also distracted, turned too. We watched Allison skid across the floor, hitting a pile of boxes which toppled over her, and Nicky walking towards her with a livid face.

“What did you say about him?” she said to Allison, her voice very low just below the freezing point.

Allison struggled to get up, but spat back at Nicky, “Did you not hear me, pretty-girl…” she looked up at Nicky’s face. “… I said he was a good for nothi -”

But this was enough for Nicky, for she threw herself on Allison. I suddenly became conscious to the fact that Rio’s Other-Half was very close. I glanced at his pocket through the corner of my eye and saw the key dangling from the chain. My hand was just inches away from it. I slowly reached out for it, but I felt his hand grasp my neck. His face was inches from mines, and he was smiling menacingly. He tightened his grip.

“You have one last chance now… Tom.” He said; his voice almost a whisper. “You either come with us… or –”

“Never” I gasped.

“Very well.” He said, and gripped tighter.

I struggled to get free, to breathe. My eyes swivelled past Rio’s Other-Half’s head and saw Richard kicking Josh on the floor, and to see Allison yanking Nicky’s hair. I have to… have to get away…

I was now gasping. It felt like my eyes were going to pop out of my head any second now. His hand gripped tighter around my neck. My hand groped desperately around for something. Anything. Anything to hit Rio’s Other-Half with. I couldn’t find anything. I was pinned to the wall. Just when I thought I was going to lose it, it suddenly clicked to me. Rio’s Other-Half is a guy, right?

I raised my knee up violently, praying that I hit the right spot. He cried out, and let go of me, leaving my air-space free. I gulped for air, and staggered onto some other pile of boxes. I turned to see Rio’s Other-Half crouching on the floor. He looked up for me to see his face contorted with pain.

“You bastard.” He groaned. I looked around. I saw a nearby pile of boxes near Rio’s Other-Half. I lunged towards him, and tackled him onto the floor. He tried to push me away, but he was weak from my very special attack. (Hehe) I pinned him onto the floor, and reached for the key. I yanked it off the chain that dangled from his pocket.

“No!” he cried out, and started to reach for it.

My other hand clenched into a fist and I clouted him on the head. He fell back, and groaned again. I quickly got up to the nearby pile of boxes, and pushed them over. Rio’s Other-Half watched helplessly as they slowly fell on him. I heard a strangled cry as they toppled over him, covering every inch of his body.

Satisfied, I turned with a deep breath to look at what Nicky and Josh had gotten up to.

Allison was on the floor, seemingly unconscious, and Richard was nowhere to be seen, probably under a pile of boxes as well. Nicky looked weak sitting on the floor, and Josh stood beside her, with a grin.

“Nice move.” He said to me.

Nicky looked up, and attempted to smile, “Yeah, sweet.”

I looked at them, “You were watching me?” I asked bewilderedly.

“Well… yeah. I mean, I was finished with Richard.” Josh said, still grinning moronically.

I gaped at him. “You could’ve at least helped me there; he was chocking me to death.”

He shrugged. “I came to Nicky’s rescue… Allison had her on the floor.”

“I was fine” Nicky said. She made to get up from the floor, and nearly fell over. Josh steadied her as I made my way to her.

“You OK?” I asked.

Nicky nodded. I saw her face twist in pain as she stood up. She made to take a step forward, but nearly buckled if I wasn’t next to her supporting her. I put her arm around my shoulder and helped her walk towards the door.

“I think I’ve sprained my ankle.” She said as I took the key to unlock the door.

She was stating the obvious, and I smiled very slightly, and said, “You think?”



TO BE CONTINUED…

My Trip To Nowhere... Chapter Fifteen

I heard Nicky gasp in astonishment. Josh was gaping at Rio’s Other-Half. I kept my gaze locked on Rio. I didn’t realize how hard my fists were clenched until now.

“But… but Rio wouldn’t let himself get caught… it's impossible.” Nicky spluttered.

Rio’s Other-Half merely smiled. Then it dawned to me. No, Rio couldn’t have… “What have you done to him?” I demanded again, this time more threateningly, stepping closer. My hands were shaking slightly. No way could they have…

“No…” Nicky said, as she understood what I was trying to find out. “You… didn’t?”

Rio’s Other-Half looked straight into Nicky’s eyes and said quietly, “Rio… isn’t here anymore.”

It was like as if I had been punched in the face. A cold feeling of sickness rushed through me. I had only known Rio for a few hours… I stood limply, taking it in. Josh looked stunned. But Nicky - looked furious. I turned my head to glance at her, but as I did, she pushed pass me and flew a punch at Rio’s Other-Half’s face. He must have not been expecting it, for he did not duck in time. Nicky’s fist struck his cheek hard and he staggered back in shock. I gaped at Nicky. Nicky made to move towards Rio’s Other-Half, but I was too quick. I took hold of her waist and tried to pull her away. She was so tensed and her hair brushed against my face as she struggled to make me let go of her. I was surprised how strong she was. I felt her slowly slipping out of my grip as she struggled, yelling, “You bastards! You can't have killed him! You can't have killed Rio!” I put my arms around her waist, and firmly but gently pulled her away. I felt her body relax slightly. Once I was sure she wasn’t going to hit Rio’s Other Half-Again, I loosened my grip.

I glanced at Nicky’s face. Her eyes were narrowed and bright, brimming with tears of rage and aggravation, glaring at Rio’s Other-Half. Her lips were shaped in a snarling manner, her bottom lip was quivering slightly in fury, and she was shaking. I put a hand on her shoulder to soothe her. I looked up at Rio’s Other-Half to see him and Allison and Richard standing together, looking furious. I suddenly felt afraid. If they had killed Rio… then they will have no objection in doing the same to us.

“So…” Rio’s Other-Half hissed. I noticed his right cheek was scarlet. He took a slightly unsteady step forwards. “You will not come with us, then.”

I also took a step forwards. I did not know what else we can do to escape, but I knew that we still had to carry on trying – there was no giving up. So then, I said in a low voice, “No.”

“So be it.” he snarled, and in a quick motion he flung his fist to my face and I felt a hard blow on the side of my head, and cried out, as I staggered backwards, to the wall, head throbbing. I heard Nicky scream, and I tried to look up as stars began to pop out of nowhere. I saw his outlined figure coming towards me, fists still raised. I ducked, and I heard a crunch, as his fist made contact to the wall behind me. I made my way unsteadily to Josh. I felt someone put an arm around me, and tried to see who it was. I recognized Nicky’s touch. I blinked rapidly, and pulled away. I realized that Richard and Allison were crowding around us. I turned to see Rio’s Other-Half, standing with a bloody fist, looking at me with murderous eyes.




TO BE CONTINUED…

My Trip.... To Nowhere - Chapter Fourteen

“I had a feeling that you were somewhere near.” Rio said, smiling pleasantly at me.

“What’s going on?” I demanded. “What did you mean when you said you were happy here? What did Allison mean when she said that it was all a mistake in thinking that we were being used? Aren't we meant to be escaping?”

Rio gave me one brief smile, and walked towards the door. He turned his back to me and took something out of his pocket. I heard a soft click. He had locked the door.

“I want to stay here. And so does Allison and Richard.” Rio said carefully, as he turned around to face me.
“But why?” Nicky asked.

“Can’t you see how awful this place is?” Josh asked.

I looked at Rio carefully. He was keeping his steady gaze on me as he walked nearer to us. There was something familiar in his behaviour.

“You guys don’t understand. It was all a mistake.” Richard said. There was something similar in Rio’s, Allison’s and Richards’s behaviour.

“What was?” Josh asked.

“When we thought that we were being used to make clones. To make a better version of us. All that isn’t true.” Allison said.

Silence...

“Then… explain all the white light. Explain the beeping noises I heard when I first came here… and… explain why I couldn’t move… and why I couldn’t open my eyes – had I been… drugged? If so… why?” I asked slowly, all the time keeping my eyes fixed on Rio.

He simply looked at me.

“Why do you want to stay at this… this place?” Nicky asked.

I couldn’t read Rio’s facial expression. But I could see that he was very calm…

“Yeah, dude, you can't just stay here.” Josh said.

In fact, Rio looked too calm… and so did Richard and Allison. Somehow, their expressions looked very familiar… His eyes I noticed looked very cold and seemed to have no feeling in them.

I suddenly realized. My mind flashed back to that luxurious room I was in before; the knock on the door; the person who came in; my… Other-Half, so –

“You –” I gasped, and took a step backwards. Why did I not realize before?

He smiled very slightly, and cocked his head to the side, “What is it, Tom?”

From the corner of my eye I saw Nicky frown in confusion at me.

How did I not realize before? I thought to myself. Look what I had gotten us into now! If only I had remembered to duck back down, then the three of us would remain unseen! You fool, Tom!

“Something wrong… Tom?” Rio asked, his lips stretched in a sardonic smile.

“Where is the real Rio,” I demanded, taking a step forwards to face… his Other-Half.



TO BE CONTINUED…

My Trip... To Nowhere - Chapter Thirteen

We were all blinking rapidly. Bright white light was suddenly surrounding us, almost blinding us all. We stood there for quite a while, letting our eyes adjust to the sudden bright light, which was a huge contrast to the darkness.

“Man, this is bright.” I heard Josh say.

We were in a room, similar to the dungeons, except it had no cells. Just dull dark grey stone walls encircled us, and piles of boxes lay scattered on the floor. I was amazed that I hadn’t knocked into them earlier. I quickly scanned the place, in case of guards – or worse. I looked around at Josh and Nicky.

“You guys alright?” I asked.

They both nodded.

I was suddenly aware that we were all still holding hands, and I hastily let go of Nicky’s hand. I saw her blush slightly.

I glanced around the room again, and spotted a door. I made to move to it, but then I stopped dead in my tracks. Voices. Voices on the other side.

I whipped around to face Nicky and Josh.

“Hide” I hissed, and grabbed Nicky’s arm. I led her and Josh to a big pile of boxes to hide behind.

We were just in time, as the door opened. The three of us were crouching down. I glanced at Josh. He opened his mouth to whisper something to me but I put a finger on my lips, gesturing urgently for silence. I glanced over the box, and then ducked back down. Then froze. Huh? I looked back over the box. Rio? Then I ducked back down again. I looked at Nicky. She looked back at questioningly and I mouthed Rio’s name. Hers and Josh’s mouth fell open. They made to get up from their crouching position, but suddenly, I held them down. They looked at me in protest. I was suddenly unsure. I glanced back from behind the box, and then ducked back behind it. Rio wasn’t alone.

“Sir,”

The three of us jumped, and then remained squatting down behind the boxes.

“What?” we heard Rio say.

“We can’t find the rest… We’ve searched everywhere…” I’m guessing this was one of the guards.

There was a cold silence. Then,

“Well then, keep searching.” Rio said, with a hint of a warning.

“Yes sir.”

Then, footsteps. Footsteps walking away.

“Wait.”

“Yes sir?” said the guard, sounding uncertain.

“Have you found that other guard who seemingly got himself lost?”

“Er… Aye, do you mean Old Shorty sir?”

“Whatever his name is” Rio said, insensitively.

“Er… Yes sir, we did.” The guard said nervously. I could almost picture him looking anxious.

“Well?” Rio demanded.

“Well… Sir, you see, the prisoners… the prisoners had… imprisoned him in one of their cells.”

Ringing silence - and I did not dare to breathe. I began to think rapidly. Then,

“Very well, I shall see to him. Meanwhile… get the prisoners back. Find them. Bring them to me without harm. If I see a mere scratch on them…”

“But Sir,” the guard said, “Why? What does it matter if they are wounded or not?”

“Just do as I say.” Rio hissed.

There was a few seconds of silence, and then, the guard said, “Oh right. Of course, yes Sir.” Then, we heard footsteps as the guard walked away.

Nicky glanced at me, and I shook my head. Rio must still be in the room. Then, we heard the door open, and we stayed still again.

“Rio, we can’t find them.” Someone said. I recognized that voice. I glanced at Josh and Nicky to confirm who I thought it was – Richard.

“It’s like as if they disappeared.” said someone else. I also recognized that voice. This person must be Allison.

But whats going on? Why are the guards so friendly to them? Aren’t we meant to be on the run from them? Why are they looking for us?

There was a momentary silence, and then we heard Rio say, “Tom is very clever. He is quick on his feet and he thinks fast. Of course it will be difficult to find him. But to explain everything to him…”

“Explain what?” we heard Richard say, then, “Oof!” as I looked over the box to see Allison stamping on his foot.

“To explain that the guards really meant no harm, and that it was all a mistake in thinking that we are being used.” Allison said in a loud clear voice.

Her words rang in my mind. Nicky and Josh both looked shocked.

“I am happy here.” Rio said. And with those words, he turned his head slowly into my direction. I ducked back down quickly. Damn it! I had completely forgotten to duck back down! I looked at Josh and Nicky in panic. Then, suddenly a shadow loomed over us. We looked up to see Rio smiling at me. The three of us jumped back, and stood a few metres away from Rio, and Richard and Allison who joined his side.




TO BE CONTINUED…

My Trip.... To Nowhere - Chapter Twelve

It was very dark, and we were all holding hands as so not to get lost. I held on to Nicky’s as she was in between me and Josh, with me leading the way. My other arm was waving blindly in front of me in case of obstacles. We were all so quiet. As time passed I began getting confident in walking in the dark. My hand finally touched something flat and smooth in front of me. I assumed it was a wall. I felt it, and followed it to the right. All this was happening so slowly… so long have we been trying to escape, and yet it seems as if we’ve met a few minutes ago. I felt a bump on the wall. I felt it. A switch! Could it be a light switch? I stopped walking, and felt Josh collide with Nicky, who bumped into me.

“Sorry.” I whispered, turning my head around, although I couldn’t see them.

“What is it? What did you find?” Nicky whispered. I could feel her breath on my cheek.

“I found a switch. Do you reckon it's a light switch?”

“We could try it.” She replied.

“But we’ve gotten this far, what if it raises an alarm or something?”

“Go for it.” Nicky squeezed my hand gently, and I slowly reached up for the switch with my other hand.

*


“You irritating lot are beginning to wear my patience.” A cold voice said.

Rio spat out from behind the bars, “They will get away. They will be free. And then… they will warn the police about you… and you others, and whoever is behind this.”

“In your dreams… my dear Rio.”

Rio looked up in disgust at the person who spoke.

“Who is behind this?” Rio demanded.

His Other-Half merely smiled coldly at him. Then his gaze shifted to look at the two limp figures on the floor behind Rio – Richard and Allison.

“It’s for me to know… and for you to find out.” He smiled coldly and irritatingly at Rio, and turned to walk away. “Oh… and…” He turned back to look at Rio. “…I will find your friend Tom, and his two companions, and I will lure them back to the dungeons, you mark my words.” He hissed, and turned sharply and walked away.



TO BE CONTINUED…

My Trip.... To Nowhere - Chapter Eleven

I gaped at him. Me? I was never usually the one who was left in charge.

“But… why?” I asked. I could feel everyone’s eyes on me again.

“You proved to me that you are… pretty clever… and quite daring.” Rio said slowly.

“And so what? Look, Rio, I don’t know this place at all. You’ve led us this far, you can't stop now.”

“And so… I will continue leading the way. I am only leaving you to figure out another escape plan.”

“But to do that, I need to know this place.”

Rio paused, and then he smiled again. “And you did it again… Tom, you don’t know it, but you can be very sharp in spotting things.”

He paused as I waited.

“And so… don’t hesitate to point out any other flaws in our plans to escape… the only reason why we haven’t managed to escape before... was because no one had pointed them out.” He said finally.

I nodded.

“Is everyone prepared to face a difficult situation?” Rio asked.

I nodded again, and I could feel everyone else doing the same. I looked up to see Rio’s facial expression. He looked back at me briefly, and I could see that it must be a very hard plan to follow…

“Ok… so, here’s how it goes…”

*

I was running down a passageway with Nicky and Josh by my side. We had come to a decision that was hard at first… to split up, and escape – if we don’t meet again… we don’t go looking for each other, and we just carry on. But I was hoping… hoping that we will all meet again.

We came to a stop at a door. I was panting slightly from running, and so was Nicky and Josh.

“What… now?” Josh asked, breathing heavily.

I looked at the door. I moved towards it. I reached out to turn the door knob. I felt a hand on my arm, and stopped.

“We don’t know who’s in there.” I heard Nicky say.

“There's only one way to find out.” I said grimly. I reached the door knob, and turned it.

I felt Josh and Nicky holding their breaths, and I couldn’t help but do the same as the door swung open.

Everything was pitch-black, and seemingly empty.

We stood there, not knowing what to do.

“Shall we… move on?” Josh asked.

I didn’t know what to do. We couldn’t turn back and risk getting caught, but I wasn’t sure of moving on. I turned, and looked back at where we came from.

“We can't go back.” Nicky said softly.

“But the rest…” I started

“They have Rio. And we…” she paused and I looked at her. “…we’ve got you.”

I raised a hand to gesture for silence. I had heard something. Josh and Nicky fell silent. We all stood still like statues and listened carefully. I strained my ears.

Footsteps. Distant footsteps slowly getting nearer.

My heart pounded hard against my chest, and I glanced at the dark doorway.
As I did I briefly caught Nicky’s eyes and saw the fear in them.

I took a deep breath, and led the way quickly, but hesitantly through the doorway.



TO BE CONTINUED…

My Trip.... To Nowhere - Chapter Ten

The dungeon was like a maze – with twisting passages and dead ends. How Rio knew his way around, I don’t know. I decided now was not the right time to ask, and just followed close behind him with Nicky by my side. Everyone was as quiet as mice. I could barely hear our footsteps as we ran lightly through the passages. I could only hear us breathing, and the loud thumping of my heart. At last, we came to a stop at three doors. I expected for Rio to go through one straight away, but he stood still.

“What?” I asked. “What is it?”

Rio stayed silent, thinking.

I waited, and then turned to Nicky, who was also looking at the doors in confusion.

“Two of the doors weren’t here before…” Nicky said. “Are you sure we went the right way, Rio?”

I saw Rio nod. “Definitely.” He looked at the doors. “They are new. And so one must be old.” He walked to one of the doors, and peered at it as if to check it out.

We all waited as he peered and checked all three doors.

He turned around with a satisfied smile. “And so… the old one must be the right one.” He turned back and made to open the middle door which I noticed looked slightly battered and had a small scratch at the side.

“Wait.” I suddenly said. A thought suddenly came across my mind.

Rio stopped and turned slightly so his head was turned to the side to look at me sideways.

“If they have made new doors… it might mean that the doors lead to a different place…” I said.

Rio turned around fully to look at me.

“…so how can we be sure that that door is the right door?”

Rio frowned at me in recognition. I could feel the others holding their breaths. I then realized that no one has dared questioned Rio as their leader. I looked at him carefully, and felt Nicky move next to me.

He nodded at me. But it did not seem as if he was saying I was just right. It also seemed to say that he had a different opinion of me – a higher opinion.

“You’re right.” He said, finally.

He nodded again, and looked at me. “You are definitely right. We are screwed.”

I looked at him with surprise. “Screwed? But you can think of anything! You brought us through the right passages through the dungeon, and it was you who thought of all of this!”

Then we heard voices from the other side of one of the doors.

“Hide!” He hissed, and led the way to a nearby cell which was in the shadows. I marvelled at his quick thinking of cover. We all crouched low in the back of the cell. Just in time, as the door to the right opened and a guard came out, saying over his shoulder to someone we couldn’t see,

“I won't be long – just going to see where old Shorty had got to – bet he got himself lost again…” still grumbling, he made his way through the dungeon in the direction where we just came from.

I looked at Rio for assurance.

He simply looked at me.

“Surely… surely there's something else we can do?”

He shook his head defiantly, and looked straight into my eyes, with encouragement and defeat. It was as if me questioning him just now was a huge deal. Then, he said,

“It’s all down to you now.”


TO BE CONTINUED…

My Trip.... To Nowhere - Chapter Nine

“Just let him move to my cell, you dumb-ass.”

I looked up at Rio, who spoke, and the guard turned to him.

“‘Oo, me?”

“Yer, you.” Rio replied, also in the same accent as the guard.

“Bu’ why?”

“Cuz I sed so.”

“Cuz you sed so?”

“Yer, cuz I sed so.” Rio replied. He caught my eye, and I tried not to smile.

“O’” replied the guard.

“So you got a problem wiv dat?” Rio asked.

“No… it just dat -”

“Dat wha’?”

“Nufin.” The guard said uncomfortably.

“Gud. So move ‘im ‘ere.”

“Aye, dat I will do.”

I watched in amazement as the guard took some keys out of his pocket, and unlocked my door. I had nearly forgotten what I was meant to do, until I glanced up to grin at Nicky. She looked at me with urging eyes, and pointed at the guard. At once I remembered everything. Once the door swung open, and the guard stepped back to let me out, I turned to him. He looked up at me as my right fist was raised.
“Ay, wha’ are ye –”

DOOSH!

I swung my fist right across his head, and he staggered back to Rio’s cell, but he still clung onto his keys.

“Wha’ ye did dat for –”

I knocked him again, and this time he slumped to the ground, weak and presumably knocked out. I bent down to pick up the keys he dropped.

There were four keys attached to one ring. I picked one at random and fitted it into the lock of Rio’s cell door. He was on the other side of the door, smiling slightly.

“Good one, Tom.”

I looked up while turning the lock over. “Not a problem.” I grinned back.

I stood back and swung their door open. Rio and everyone else poured out. All had an excited and relieved expression – apart from Rio who looked calm.

I felt a hand on my arm, and turned around. But before I could do so properly to see who it was, a voice breathed close to my left ear,

“You did really well.”

I glanced around and saw Nicky, smiling.

“Right… so this… stupid guard…” I heard Rio say, and turned to look. Others were crowded around the guard who was at Rio’s feet.

“We could put him in there,” A boy I remembered was Richard said, pointing to their old cell.

Rio grabbed the guard from under the armpits and dragged him into the cell. Then he locked the cell door, leaving the guard a prisoner.

“Lets see how you like it…” Rio muttered, and slipped the keys into his pocket.

“Right.” He turned to all of us, with a slight smile on his face. “Follow me…”



TO BE CONTINUED…

My Trip.... To Nowhere - Chapter Eight

Everyone looked so different after Rio explained what we should do. So sharp. So alert. We were ready. He knew the passages of the dungeons of by heart from attempting to escape before. All we need was…

“A distraction,” Rio muttered.

Even Nicky, whom I noticed before who sat in one place, gazing in the same direction, now stood up, taping against the bars impatiently, looked somewhat ecstatic. I looked at her, and noticed she is very pretty. How can anyone lock up someone like her? She must have noticed I was looking at her, and glanced in my direction. I quickly looked away.

“Aha.” Rio said at last.

I looked up at him. He was looking at me with bright eyes – a contrast to his dark hair, and hollow look.
I felt uneasy.

“What?” I said

He smiled at me, and said, “You.”

Everyone in his cell turned to look at me.

“What about me?”

“When the guards come to give us food, you can complain that you don’t like being on your own in one cell. So…” He trailed off, with an encouraging smile at me. Everyone else in his cell was smiling at me, and nodding. I could feel Nicky’s eyes on me, but I kept my gaze on Rio.

“So…” I said, also trailing off, waiting for a conclusion.

“So… after you convince the guard that you want to join us, the guard will open the cell door and you…” He paused to grin. “… Knock him out cold, and take the keys, and free us.”

I was dumbfounded. Me? Knock a grown man out cold…? Me? Ha! I actually started laughing. They looked at me like i was crazy.

“What?” Rio said, looking slightly annoyed. “Whats so funny?””

I stopped laughing, and looked at him. “You… you don’t actually think I can knock him out cold, do you? I mean… what with?” I gestured around my small cell. “I got nothing!”

He looked perplexed. “With your own two fists of course.”

Then it was my turn to look puzzled. They were all looking at me expectedly. All right. If they want me to… to knock out this guard, then… I’ll try… but no promises that I would be able to.

I nodded. “All right then…”

And so we waited.

We waited for the time for a guard to come to deliver us some food. I noticed that everyone was slowly getting bored, and were going back to their habits of gazing gloomily at a random spot on the wall.

Then, from the distance we heard shuffling footsteps getting nearer to us. Rio glanced at me and nodded at me in encouragement. I glanced at Nicky, and found she was looking at me. When our eyes met she smiled at me also encouragingly, and I returned the smile. Then, the guard came to view. He was short, and looked a bit on the overweight side. He shuffled nearer, and saw he was carrying a basket of food for us. He opened a small flap at the bottom of Rio’s cell door, and pushed some of its contents in. Then quickly shut it. He shuffled to my cell door, and was about to open it, until I said,

“How come I'm all alone here?”

He looked up at me. From up close I noticed he had a dopey expression on his face.

“Eh?” he said.

“How come I'm all alone here?”

“Aye, that’s right ye are.”

“Yeah, but why am I?”

“Why am you wha’?”

“All alone.”

“Alone?”

“Yes. Why am I all alone here?”

“Why shud’ I give a damn?”

“I want to move to their cell,” I nodded in Rio’s direction. I noticed that he was trying not to smile.

“An’ since when did ye thoughts ma’er to me?”

“I'm all alone here.”

“Yer all alone der.”

“Yes, and I want to move.”

“Ye wanna move.”

I was starting to get impatient. “Yes I want to move.”

He looked thoughtfully at the other cell.

“Well it don’t make no sense dat you’re alone ‘ere.”

“Yes, it doesn’t.”

“I cud move yer.”

I nodded.

“I beta check wiv mi boss.”

“No!” I said quickly.

“Why not?” he asked me, looking at me shrewdly with those dopey eyes.

“Because… because then it would mean that you have to go to him and come all they way back.”

“Aye, tha’ is a good point tha’ is.”

“So will you let me go to the other cell?”

“Wha’ for?”

“Because I'm all alone here, and I want to move.”

“Bu’ why wud dat concern me?”

I sighed, and glanced at Rio. This is going to take some time…



TO BE CONTINUED…