Chapter Twenty Four

The growling filled the room; it was only a reminder to how my stomach burnt a hole in itself. I swear my stomach was digesting itself in a desperate attempt to get food. It was only three days since I’d woken up in this god forsaken room, Steamer had been my only companion and in the end he had gone quiet when I couldn’t keep a conversation anymore. The heat would be unbearable for a normal person but my scales kept it out; I kept this in my mind as I shook through the pangs of hunger. I passed out frequently; when the pain got too much or when I tired myself out by rattling the chains hopelessly. My bruises still ached but the pain from my belly tore any thoughts of worrying about my ear or eye.
“Still alive there buddy?” that was Steamer, he knocked against the wall and I noticed a red heated spot where it had been touched. I couldn’t speak, if I spoke I’d throw up over the floor and I didn’t need that now. I closed my eyes and slammed my fist against the wall firmly, trying to show Steamer that I was still alive.
“Good to see you’re still there” Steamer sighed, a small hiss coming from the other side as I moved away from the boiling air wafting underneath the wall. It was the only way for me to keep track of time, five times every hour Steamer let out a blast of superheated air. I could only imagine what he looked like; there were no holes or gaps for me to look through. All I knew was the sound of his voice.

I counted in my head; finally managing to work out that it was around 5pm. I groaned to myself; it was almost time for Steamer to get his food and I couldn’t live through that again. Every day, three times in morning, noon and night he had food shoved through his door but at least he tried to eat it quietly. Every bite was a thunderous groan of pain however; the world was reduced to next door and I didn’t exist. At least that’s what I tried to do.
“Please... for the love of God give me something to eat” I whispered, pressing my forehead against the tin wall and feeling the hot metal.
The sound of him eating stopped at once, I could tell he was feeling guilty “Look, there’s no way to get it over there to begin with.”
“I’ll rip the wall down” I whimpered, bashing my head against the wall softly “I’d rip concrete apart to get food right now.”
There was a deep silence from the other side then a small sigh “Alright; if you can get this wall down I’ll share my food with you... just try not to get us in trouble and hang in there. It won’t be long I’m sure.” I started to claw at the walls at once, my grip was weak though and I barely scratched the surface before the innumerable aches and pains dropped me to the floor in a tight ball of aches. I needed to move, I had to move or I’d die of starvation. I- passed out.

The banging finally woke me; I tried to move and groaned deeply in pain. I looked up slowly, each tiny movement sent waves of pain smashing down over me. There were hot red places all over the metal separating me and Steamer; more were appearing with each clang as Steamer hit the wall.
“Hey buddy!” he was yelling now, a loud whistling coming from behind the wall as steam wafted up the “Wake up!” Groaning loudly I couldn’t make any other sound but a yell of pain; it hurt to breathe without all the hot air inside my metal box. The red areas began to fade as Steamer stopped pounding at the wall; the air began to become cooler and easier to breathe.
“You’ve been out for a day” Steamer said, the whistling was getting lower “You’ll be getting food soon hopefully.” I wanted to jump for joy, I wanted to do cartwheels, I wanted to dance but most of all I wanted to have the food now or someone will die.

Steamer had blown a lot of his fumes in his panic so I had no idea how long it took before the searing light of day burst through my door as it was flung open. I gasped as cold air rushed over my body, a lifetime with Steamer and I’d gotten used to the high temperature and this nipped at my bare exoskeleton. I could only stare at the food as it was dropped just beyond the door; it was taunting me now. I reached out slowly, trying to grab hold of the bowl that lay just out of arms length.
“Come on” I coughed, it hurt to speak and I felt like I was going to dry heave. My fingers scrabbled against the edge of the metal bowl and immediately I stopped, I didn’t want it to tip over. I couldn’t last another four days without food. I bit my lip and braced as I pushed myself forward; gripping the bowl in my hands and pulling it in front of me. I should save my food, keep it to eat over the four other days. I didn’t care right now though; I drove my face into the strange coloured slop and began to eat it down. I stopped half way; sudden cramps wracked through my body. I forced myself not to throw up; I knew what was happening, if you didn’t eat for ages and then gulped down food you could get pains or even die. I got up from the floor, sliding and almost spilling the contents over the floor. I moved on all fours towards the wall, slumped against it and curled up again.

“Pace yourself” I heard Steamer’s voice, I hated him so much right now. He didn’t seem to care that I was going through the worst pain of my entire life, first no food that paralysed me to the point I couldn’t speak and now I felt like I’d swallowed a lead weight. I smacked against the wall, groaning to myself as I curled up again in pain. Tomorrow... tomorrow I would do something about this but now I was going to black out again.

Disclaimer: No one will ever steal from Lavalamp studios or me or they will find themselves with the concrete over jacket treatment...

Ebony and Ivory chapter twentyfive