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...