Page 73 of Caged

A shiver that had nothing to do with the chill in the basement, ran down my spine. I prayed SSI found us before it was too late.

When the alarm started blaring, I blocked my ears as best I could and tried to remember the lyrics to my favorite song, hoping the concentration needed would keep my mind off the noise.

When the strobe started I squeezed my eyes shut and prayed.

Chapter 29

Jay

It felt like days, but probably wasn’t more than an hour or two, before they shut the alarm and strobe off. I gave up reciting the creed and took a walk down memory lane, remembering the extensive training I’d taken to become a Raider instead. It served as a reminder I could get through this.

Hell, I’d already survived hell like this once. And these guys had nothing on our enemies in the Middle East. Though I figured it was only a matter of time before they upped the ante and got more creative with the torture.

I didn’t know how long it was before the foghorn sounded, Franks and two riflemen came down the stairs, and two more bags landed in our cell. Once again, we tested the bottles and ignored the food. Tossing the bags out of the cage to remove temptation was harder this time around.

They left us alone in cold, dark silence for a few blissful hours, giving us time to talk.

We were getting along, but I was about to disrupt that. Not that I wanted to upset her, but I didn’t want Roman thinking we were friends and could be used against each other.

Too late.My mind reminded me I’d held her in my arms and comforted her when they’d brought her back.At least I can get to know her and kill some time.

“Let’s play a game,” I suggested.

“You know it’s dark, right?”

“Yup. You don’t need light to play twenty questions.”

“I’m not in the mood.”

She sounds tired. Not that it surprised me; she’d been through a lot.

“And here I thought you were tough.” I tsked.

“Fine. Ask.”

“First the rules. You have to answer the question you ask after you hear my answer, same for me. What’s your favorite color?” Starting with easy questions would help us relax.

“I don’t really have one.”

“Lame answer, Maxwell. Pick one.”

“Fine.” After a pause she said, “You know the color of the first daffodils in spring? I think that’s my favorite color.”

Interesting, a color tied to a flower and a season. “I never would have pegged you for a flower girl.”

“Most women like flowers, even the ones who don’t talk about it.”

“That’s what Meg says. My favorite color is green.”

She laughed, “Figures. OD?”

After years of wearing the military shade of green, olive drab wasn’t even in my top ten. “Is that your question?”

“No, it’s clarification. Besides, I already answered the question.”

“My game, my rules, and I say it counts as your question. And my answer is, no, not OD. I like the dark shades, though I can’t name them.” I didn’t give her time to respond before asking my next question. “What’s your favorite food? It can be general.”

“That’s easy. Pasta.” She laughed.

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