Our Spirits Won't Be Caged

[Deleted]

I'm Bulletproof, nothing to lose

They were letting her rest. A small mercy after what felt like years of torture as the drill cut through flesh and pierced her bones. She did not remember when they stopped. The world had been a haze of white-hot pain that only now split into greys. There was no table underneath her now, only the cold metal of the steel cage they had tossed her in.

One cage of many. Cages that waited for her people.

Harper was not sure what she dreaded more - seeing those cages filled or being strapped to that table again. Neither was an enjoyable experience. They were keeping her alive, for now, but she had no idea if that might change. If they talked about it in front of her the information was lost to the grinding of the drill in her body and the screams of pain she could not help but release every time they started in on her.

All she could do was try to conserve her strength and fight the dizziness that twisted her stomach and made her feel sicker and weaker than she ever felt before. Maybe she could figure a way out of this, if they let her rest long enough to recover a little.

Maybe this was just how she was going to die.

TAGGED: Annika Burnam

FIRE AWAY, FIRE AWAY

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[Annika Burnam]

Annika had been one of many to be taken. She was exhausted, tired of being where she was. They didn't feed her, nor any of the others in the cages enough. Though there was one girl in particular in a cage next to her. She was one of the ones that Bellamy had in his militia before. Her name was Harper. She was also a delinquent like she herself. And she didn't look good.

When they had tossed her in, the first thing she thought was hope. Then she saw her not really move and she felt doubt set in. They were doing something to them. Something horribly wrong. She'd look at the girl through the cage. Harper? What did they do to you? She'd ask, her voice hoarse from lack of water and speech.

@harper

[Deleted]

I'm Bulletproof, nothing to lose

"In the flesh." Her own voice made her wince. It hurt to talk with her throat raw from screaming. As bad as Annika sounded, Harper's own voice sounded worse. The Mountain Men may have wanted her alive, but that did not mean they tended to her. There were nearly fifty other viable subjects, after all.

"Ah, nothing majour. Bought me dinner, gave me a room, jammed a drill into my body." Although she spoke as flippantly as she could there was no denying the bone wearing strain in her quiet, hoarse voice.

She forced herself to sit up. Her fingers wrapped around the cold metal of the cage to keep herself steady as she peered through the gloom to look at Annika. She recognised her but had never really talked to her before. They had been on the dropship together and in the camp, but Harper was one of the higher-ranked Gunners. She had never really made a point to talk to the girl.

She leaned closer. It hurt to speak but she did not remain in silence. "Welcome to death. Sorry to see you here."

TAGGED: Annika Burnam

FIRE AWAY, FIRE AWAY

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[Annika Burnam]

Annika listened to her speak the first time. Her voice was so raw, Anna's sounded perfect compared to hers. She winced at the way she spoke and probably the way she felt. She felt awful for her. Nobody deserved what was happening to her right now. Well, whatever they were doing was beyond her. She had been stuck in this cage since they had taken her with a bunch of others. Now she had no clue who was alive and what was going on.

She got her answer as to what they were doing to Harper. What the hell? Why were they sticking drills in Harper. Wait, why would they stick drills into anyone at that matter. She noticed how wary she sounded and gave her a sympathetic smile. Sounds like a perfect first date. She croaked out to her, trying to lighten up Harper's mood. If anything, it sounded like she went to hell and back.

When Harper put her fingers around the cage and pulled herself up, Anna moved up too, eyeing her warily. She might make herself black out if she wasn't careful. Don't make yourself pass out again. She said to the girl. One thing was that she knew, she hadn't really spoken to Harper. Sure, they both could fight and all and maybe they should have spoken to each other, but that didn't mean they did. Harper was one of the higher ranking people and, if you wanted to compare it to the times when there were castles that she had learned about back on the Ark, Harper was almost a Noble and Anna...well she would be somewhere near middle to peasant class.

When she spoke, Anna snorted. I don't have plans on dying without a fight. She told the girl. even if they tried to take her and do what they did to Harper, she would at least try to kick some of their asses before she went down.

@harper

[Deleted]

I'm Bulletproof, nothing to lose

"If I pass out they make take you instead." They may also just take her instead. If they took Harper despite her weakness then it would be clear they did not care if she died now that they had another. Taking Annika instead would mean that they needed them alive - at least for now. Harper was hoping the latter was the case but ached too much to believe her hope was grounded in anything but pipe dreams.

"I won't pass out though." She tightened her grip on the cage and leaned her head against it. It was sweet of Annika to be concerned for her well-being, especially since they had never really spent much time together. Harper did not recall Annika from before her time locked up, but once on ground she never really sought out the other woman. Their little world of nearly a full hundred had been massive compared to her cell. Names and faces she knew in passing and with the pressing threat of the grounders she had not taken the time to get to know Annika. She almost regretted it.

"Good to see you've got fight in you still." She opened her eyes, not realising she had closed them against the gloom. "But we can't fight them. They'll only shock the ever-living shit out of you if you do."

Harper went quiet for a time as her mind raced. She did not think that she would be able to get out. Not like this. Not without more help or a miracle. She was too drained and hurt too much. Harper had a good chance at getting free and if she could get out then maybe she could pass word along to someone. Warn them about what the Mountain Men were doing.

"Here's the idea..." She swallowed dryly. "Whoever gets grabbed has to struggle. Not to escape, because that won't work. They'll only zap, so act quickly. Grab something - a needle, maybe. Anything that could be used to pick a lock. Hold tight to it and don't drop it. I think I can reach the lock on your cage. If I can get it undone, you get out. Don't look back. Get out and let them know what's going on."

TAGGED: Annika Burnam

FIRE AWAY, FIRE AWAY

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[Annika Burnam]

What she said next didn't surprise Anna at all. If they were doing what Harper said they were, eventually they would get to her. She was due anytime if anything. She lifted her lip to the side, making a weird side line across it. Almost like in some of those books that she had seen a long time ago. Well, I hope they don't kill me or you if they do. She said. She had no clue why they would take Harper again. She obviously couldn't stand much more. But her, Anna, she was a fresh..ish? Person. The likelihood of them taking Anna instead of Harper was 1 out of 10. When she said she wouldn't pass out with a determination that any broken person wouldn't have, she smiled. Good, because everyone's gonna need you @harper and you aren't gonna die." She said. It could be false, it also could be true. You never know.

She snorted at what she said next. Well. I can try to stand it as long as i can. She said. At this point she was just getting cocky. She knew she wouldn't be able to withstand it for a long time. It's electricity for heavens sake!

When she got quiet, Anna did too, leaning her head against the metal. Then she spoke. She looked over at Harper like she was the craziest person alive. But then...it was a great plan. However, she didn't like the not looking back thing. What about you? I'm not going to leave you here just to be tortured like some sort of lab rat! She argued. But she heard a metal clang and shuffling. She looked over at Harper with confusion and fear in her eyes.

[Deleted]

I'm Bulletproof, nothing to lose

A small smile tugged the corners of Harpers lips but did not reach her eyes. Although she did not want to die and had no intentions of doing so anytime soon, she recognised the weakness in her body as the threat it was. The drillings were taking its toll on her and she was not sure how much longer she could handle. She was not about to say that though. Instead she chuckled and cracked a joke that had a bit of truth to it. "Keep telling yourself that. Most of you don't even know my name."

Harper glanced towards the sound of the clanging and shuffling, knowing what it likely meant. It was not help walking their way. It would be the doctor with her guards, ready to jam the drill into their bones. Joy. Just what she wanted. Either she would have to sit through listening to Annika suffer or go through it herself. Either way was not a pleasant event.

"You'll stick to the plan." She hissed between her teeth, straining to keep her voice quiet so that those approaching would not hear. "Don't get lost in sentimental sympathy. I'd slow you down and if the rest of us stand a chance, you need to get out. We can't risk everyone else, got it?"

TAGGED: Annika Burnam

FIRE AWAY, FIRE AWAY

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