Our 'Death' Sentence

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"The people..." Andrew straightened up, breathing easier now. "All the people are gathered back there. Some were saying the had found 'it'. I didn't know what they meant so I tried asking around but no one could be bothered to answer."

"Should we go...follow? I mean, I don't really see any other choice." James.

"I guess..." I looked between Andrew, James and the distance, thinking. The others fell silent as I began walking forward. "There's only one way to know and find out what's happening." I glanced back as I walked, hearing the shuffling steps of my friends following close behind.

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    As we neared to the people, we could see a long line that stretched down the hill and over the other side. As much as we wanted to push our way over the hill and around these people, we assumed it would be best if we just 'blended in'. Joining the long line, it gave us a chance to somewhat relax ourselves and look around. In the midst of our own attempt of getting our bearings, I paused and, instead of looking around, I looked at my friends. Each wearing an almost cautious expression on their faces. It amused me slightly but I quickly readjusted my focus on the line. None of us had really noticed the line when it moved, but it was getting shorter. After some time of waiting, I felt a nudge against my shoulder and looked back only to meet James' eyes. I hadn't realized it before, but he was staying silent, along with the others. He didn't speak but he didn't have to. I knew what he was thinking. It was sort of odd that everyone seemed to be, content, waiting here for 'it', as Andrew had put it.

    With the minutes passing, they felt like hours but for some reason, no one complained. The sun was beating down hard and the people were still hungry. We waited, pondered, moved as the line moved, and mostly, we stayed quiet. We came to the peak of the hill when a voice suddenly caught my attention. I looked up, unaware if the others had also heard the voice. I squinted as my eyes strained to see farther than their capability. My ears perked up as I tried to listen to the voice but I couln't quite make out the words. I decided to give up on the attempts until I got closer.

    Finally, we reached the top and as I waited behind my friends, the voices became clear but the people didn't. Even though we could see them we had no idea who they were. Two men on both sides of the line. They were guiding the line towards the other side of the hill. Probably leading to 'it'. There was a break in the line. Half of it going downward and the other half going upward on the opposite side. A gap was left on the peak of the hill so no one could just stand there. Only two options. You go down or you stay going up and choose if you want to bail or not. As we walked past the two men, we looked down at what everyone was waiting for. A large makeshift camp spread across the land on this side. With hills surrounding it from just about every angle, it was hard to see the entire place from one point.

    Down below there were many people. Most of them, part of the group from the shack land. But there was another group of people all visible on their own. They all wore uniforms and looked official but not one carrying a weapon. I scanned the crowd and realized there was still no sign of any one person who looked to be in charge. All these uniforms and still no visible leader. The guards gestured down to the camp but in no exact direction so the group and I made our way down the hill, scanning over the area but not paying attention to detail. As we reached the bottom, we dispersed, each going our own way. I noticed a small cave closest to the base and decided to investigate it. As I came closer, I saw that no one was inside or even looking at this one. I carefully approached it, making my way inside and letting my eyes search. There wasn't much. It looked like it was abandoned and there was no sign of food in this cave. I began to turn around, seeing nothing of value here. But as I looked to the entrance, a large metal barred door closed over the entrance, slamming shut. My eyes widened as I quickly ran to the front, wrapping my fingers around the bars and looking out as I touched the cool metal. It felt like I could see now everything that was happening.

    I stared across from me and off to the right a bit to another cage similar to mine. The luring cave design surrounding that one as well. I looked to see if I knew who might be inside that one, hoping it wasn't one of my friends. But as I analyzed the area, I found Nicole in the cell. She wasn't just caged as I was but I could make out shapes of shackles on her wrists as she too now reached the bars and looked out. I looked away, unsure of how to feel or what to do. It made sense now. I knew what was happening. We weren't going to get food. We were going to be killed. Whoever ran the place was aware of the peoples' need and desperation for food. So they attracted everyone to the same place, making sure by the time you knew to escape, you couldn't. I released the bars and turned away, pacing back and forth beside the bars. Something was itching in my mind. It was like I knew something. Something that could help me, help my friends. Something that could save all of us. There had to be a way out of here. For every cage there is a key.

    I had already searched this small cave and there was no key. I dropped my head in thought as I stopped pacing and stood still. What if the key isn't a real key? The idea struck me suddenly. I brought my head up and rushed back to the bars, gripping them tightly. What if the key is a word? Death. Huh? the word tumbled out of my mouth without any thought. Death. I whispered it this time, feeling it roll off my tongue. Yes, something felt right about the word. Death. I said it louder now. Death. Death! The bars began to shake then as they seemingly unlocked. The hinges creaked as the door began to give way. I looked across to Nicole and in that instant made eye contact. Death! I yelled it across to her, hoping she would understand my absurd outburst. Recognition registered on her face as she heard it and her eyes grew wide. My door opened then and I ran out, being fast to check if the guards noticed. No guards. Again. This was odd. Whoever came up with sick idea got too confident for any guards at the doors. I ran to Nicole's cell as her shackles feel off and helped open her door. She stepped out, grabbing me by the shoulders, her eyes saying 'thank you'. I gave her the message to pass on the key and backed away, forcing her to let me go. She nodded and I turned away in the direction of the camp. I had to go further in and find the others. Whatever we were hoping to find, it certainly wasn't 'it'. No food, no help. This was a trap. And now the one word that could save us was the one thing that was to be the end of us. Death. This was supposed to be our death sentence.