I didn't end up dying, and I wasn't sure how I felt about that. My life allowed things to get better. On the other hand, I could also be stuck here in this excuse of a prison for the rest of my life, which sounded a lot worse than dying.

They decided that they weren't going to torture me like that again, so they sent someone in to clean up. I curled up in a corner while a worker cleaned my dried blood off of the floor. The sight made me feel absolutely sick.

For a few weeks, I survived on awful food and dirty water. If I didn't die because of my open wounds, I would die from disease. I tried to move as little as possible to stop from making the injuries worse. I wasn't sure what the best thing for me to do was, and I was probably just harming myself more. Not that I cared whether I died or not.

One evening, however, I was laying down and trying to sleep when the alarm went off. I sat straight up, and winced as I stretched the wound in my back. A red alarm was flashing and sirens were screaming throughout the building. Although it hurt, I stood up. Using the wall for support, I walked toward the edge of my cell, gripped the iron bars, and peered out. Through a window, I could see the outline of a path. It was too dark to see what was out there.

Static blasted from an intercom, and then a guard spoke. "There is an intruder heading for the tower. Guards, report immediately to your positions and confirm that Prince Andor does not escape."

My heart was racing, and my legs felt weak. Who was coming to save me? The guard over the intercom announced the positions that needed to be covered, and I was tuning him out until I heard him yell.

"Intruder! INTRUD... HELP!" his voice faded out, and there was a muffled scream. It sounded like the intruder was fighting with the guard, and it appeared that he had won. Some more static blared from the speaker, and then Farmer Steve spoke.

"I'll give all of you a right rumble if you dare mess with me or Andor!" he shouted. There was some more static, and then the intercom was shut off. I found myself smiling, for the first time since the day I had been captured. Unfortunately, it didn't last long.

I heard Steve running up the metal stairs next to my cell, yelling my name.

"Steve! Steve, I'm here!" I called back desperately.

"Andor! I'm comi... GET OFF ME, YOU FOOL!" I cringed as I heard his cry. "I'll give you a right rumble mate! All of.." His words were cut off. I guessed that the guards had found him and thrust a gag into his mouth.

"Steve!" I yelled over and over, even though I knew that he couldn't answer me. "Steve, come back!" Tears spilled from my eyes, and sobs shook my broken body. I sank to the floor and put my head in my hands. Taking me was fine. I no longer had anything to live for. But Steve? He didn't deserve this.

About fifteen minutes later, the intercom switched back on. "All is well in the Inertia. The intruder has been locked up in a standard cell, and, obviously, the secure prison remained secure. Guards may return to their normal stations."

I almost didn't hear the last part over my screams of despair.