Poker Face Card #4: First Person
Card: First Person
"Onyx asked me to fetch the girl."
My ears picked up at the sound of his voice, the mention of Onyx name, and the mention of "the girl" that was me. I stood up from my seat in the cold, hard cell, my heart pounding in my chest and took a deep breath. If he was here that meant they had searched the house and found nothing. They knew I had lied.
I tried to convince myself o keep calm. I'd had plenty of time locked up, waiting here to plan my next move. I had to give them my offer and stick to it. It was the only chance I had.
His footsteps made their way toward my cell and I stood, nervously waiting, hoping that I didn't look as frightened as I felt.
He stopped at the door and looked at me through the bars.
"Onyx didn't find what she was looking for," I simply stated. I decided I might as well speak first.
He grinned slightly as she lifted the keys in his hand and unlocked the door. "I thought you knew we wouldn't."
When he opened the door, I instinctively took a step back, not knowing what his next move might be.
"She sent me to find out from you where it really is," he said.
I don't even know what "it" is or if I even have "it!" I wanted to shout out, but I didn't. Instead I stayed with my plan. "I'm not sure I have what she's looking for, but I can give her my pack. I can't tell where it is, but I can bring it here. I promise, on my word, I will bring it and all its contents here as long as I can go alone and as long as I'm not followed. I will be back within the hour, I swear it."
"No," he said.
No, that's all? My heart sank. I had to protest, but had the feeling that insisting would do no good. Of course, he wouldn't listen to me, but maybe I could offer an alternative. "I can get it . . . I just need assurance-"
"Don't," he shook his head. "Just get out of here before Onyx comes looking for you herself."
I was caught off-guard. That hadn't been the response I'd been expecting from him. "What?"
"A battle is going on in the village. Villetes and all his men are fighting it and Onyx is distracted by it for the moment. Now is your chance to get away. I can help you, but you have to move now."
I studied his face, trying to guess his motives, trying to determine if he was luring me into some kind of trap. Maybe he was a good deceiver or I not the shrewdest judge or character or intent, but I didn't detect any malice there. Warily, I took a step forward towards the open door.
"Onyx asked me to fetch the girl."
My ears picked up at the sound of his voice, the mention of Onyx name, and the mention of "the girl" that was me. I stood up from my seat in the cold, hard cell, my heart pounding in my chest and took a deep breath. If he was here that meant they had searched the house and found nothing. They knew I had lied.
I tried to convince myself o keep calm. I'd had plenty of time locked up, waiting here to plan my next move. I had to give them my offer and stick to it. It was the only chance I had.
His footsteps made their way toward my cell and I stood, nervously waiting, hoping that I didn't look as frightened as I felt.
He stopped at the door and looked at me through the bars.
"Onyx didn't find what she was looking for," I simply stated. I decided I might as well speak first.
He grinned slightly as she lifted the keys in his hand and unlocked the door. "I thought you knew we wouldn't."
When he opened the door, I instinctively took a step back, not knowing what his next move might be.
"She sent me to find out from you where it really is," he said.
I don't even know what "it" is or if I even have "it!" I wanted to shout out, but I didn't. Instead I stayed with my plan. "I'm not sure I have what she's looking for, but I can give her my pack. I can't tell where it is, but I can bring it here. I promise, on my word, I will bring it and all its contents here as long as I can go alone and as long as I'm not followed. I will be back within the hour, I swear it."
"No," he said.
No, that's all? My heart sank. I had to protest, but had the feeling that insisting would do no good. Of course, he wouldn't listen to me, but maybe I could offer an alternative. "I can get it . . . I just need assurance-"
"Don't," he shook his head. "Just get out of here before Onyx comes looking for you herself."
I was caught off-guard. That hadn't been the response I'd been expecting from him. "What?"
"A battle is going on in the village. Villetes and all his men are fighting it and Onyx is distracted by it for the moment. Now is your chance to get away. I can help you, but you have to move now."
I studied his face, trying to guess his motives, trying to determine if he was luring me into some kind of trap. Maybe he was a good deceiver or I not the shrewdest judge or character or intent, but I didn't detect any malice there. Warily, I took a step forward towards the open door.