The Big Four

Chapter 14

I hesitantly follow Jack and Kee-oo down the narrow tunnel. Hiccup and Hay-oo follow. I feel like the walls are pressing around me, collapsing, trapping...
I let out a strangled noise. I feel cornered, trapped, unable to move; I’ve got people behind me, people behind me, and unforgiving stone on either side.
I take a deep breath and try to shove aside the fear. I’ll be fine.
We finally emerge into a huge cavern. I stumble over myself, scrambling to get out into the open. I rub my hands up and down my arms to try to calm myself down.
It’s better than the narrow hall, but I still feel trapped, penned, cornered. I shove away the urge to run back up the tunnel so that I can see the sky and focus on my surroundings.
Hundreds of Spirits. Huge machines run solely on human -- or rather, spirit -- power churn and clatter. Some look on the verge of collapse. Smoke stuffs the room. Along one wall is a set of small doorways that probably only reach to my waist. They seem almost stacked. How do people even reach the higher ones?
Kee-oo leads on, and I hesitantly follow. He points out the different machines, explaining their uses. I don’t really pay any attention.
He finally comes to a halt near the doors.
“Your living quarters,” he says bluntly. He opens a door, showing a tiny, black room with no light and a thin mat for sleeping on. It looks just barely big enough for a single person to squeeze into, if they lie still and wriggle like a snake. There’s not even enough headspace to crawl.
I let out a little squeak. “I am NOT getting in one of those things!”
Kee-oo looks amused. “Suit yourself. You can work instead. If you don’t want to sleep, that’s your business.”
I pale. The cavern suddenly feels even more confining and tight. I have to gasp for air, feeling like the oxygen has suddenly drained from the cave.
I feel a warm hand rest on my shoulder, but I don’t turn to see who it is.
Kee-oo moves on. “You’ll be living here until you expire. You--” he gestures to Jack “--will work in the main engine. Workers there have… complained of overheating. You--” he waves a hand in my direction, but his eyes focus on someone directly behind me “--will help the lads with any heavy lifting. And you--” he sneers at me “--can help manage energy sources.”
I don’t really understand what he means by that, but the grip on my shoulder tightens -- just a bit.
He glances around, then motions for Hay-oo to come over. “You’re to be in charge of this lot. Manage them as you will and try to make them last as long as possible.”
Hay-oo nods, and Kee-oo starts back up the tunnel. I again shove back the urge to run back up to freedom.
Hay-oo looks us over. “Since you’re new, you can all have a few hours rest before you start work.”
I don’t move. Jack immediately crawls into a hole, closing the door behind him.
Hay-oo gives me an annoyed look. “We haven’t got all day. Get in, or you’ll have to start work now. From what I can see of your condition, that wouldn’t be good for your health. So get in before I make you.”
I take a step towards a hole. The moment I open the door, panic washes over me. I take several quick steps back, cringing away from the cage. “I can’t,” I whimper.
Hay-oo growls and starts towards me, but someone behind me propels me forwards first. I resist, trying to spin to the side. I can’t go in there. I can’t. I can’t. I can’t…
“Merida,” Hiccup whispers. “Please.”
His voice sounds desperate. I see Hay-oo hesitate, but only for a moment.
I take a deep breath and approach the hole.
“What if I can’t get out?” I squeak.
“Then you’ll stay in there until you rot,” Hay-oo shrugs.
I nearly flinch away again, but Hiccup steadies me. “It’s gonna be fine, Merida,” he promises. “I’ll make sure you get out.”
I take one more deep, shaky breath and wiggle into the darkness. The door closes behind me.
I fight back panic. I can’t curl up into a ball. Is the door air proof? Will I get any air?
I lay in a comfortable -- or as comfortable as possible -- position on my side, trying not to touch the walls. I exhale. The total darkness actually helps; by only touching the floor and not seeing the wall in front of me, I feel less confined.
I close my eyes -- not that it makes any difference -- and force myself into a fitful sleep.

---

I scrub the dishes with renewed force, nearly wiping away the very clay they’re made of.
JiA places a gentle hand on my arm. “What’s the matter?”
I sigh. “I don’t have my memory. And until I get it, those people are staying here… For me, and I don’t even know them. I just... “
JiA nods. “I get it. Please, though, try not to destroy our silverware.”
I nod. “Sorry.”
She chuckles and heads away to go back to her own work.
I sigh heavily and turn back to my chore.

---

I wake to the sudden light reaching into my hole.
Panic takes over almost immediately. I can’t move. I can’t breathe. I’m stuck!
“Get out of there!” Hay-oo lazily shouts. “I can close this again and leave you to your panic attack if you’d like…”
No.
I try to wriggle out. I hold my breath until I’m finally in the open.
“Why do you even have to have things like that? Why not bunks or… Something?” I whimper.
Hay-oo smirks. “Why do you think?”
Because they’re utter menaces. Duh.
I refuse to look weak. I refuse.
I lift my chin. “Because you’re all utterly awful. Now, what horror do you have in store next?”
I can’t read Hay-oo’s expression. “This way.”
He leads me over to one of the huge machines. A metal piece whooshes past my ear. I have to resist the urge to run far, far away.
“Out,” he orders. I don’t understand what he means for a minute; then I realize that he isn’t talking to me.
A huge wheel is standing, suspended a few feet above the ground. Through a small, circular doorway, I can see a girl inside. She weakly takes a few more steps, making the wheel roll forward without going anywhere and the nearby machine creak in response.
I get it now.
She crawls out, and I gasp. She’s as skinny as a stick. She’s so pale it’s as if she has no blood. Her hair is uneven and slightly bloody. Huge, purple bags hang under her eyes.
I shudder.
“In,” he orders, now talking to me.
I hesitantly comply.
“Just walk forward to power the machine. I’ll come and get you when your turn is up.”
“And how long will that be?”
He shrugs. “It depends.”
He saunters away.
I slowly begin to turn the heavy wheel.