3 3.CONSEQUENCES.

It was cold. Not the weather though, but his heart. It had been left on the shelf somewhere and no matter how hard he yelled or cried, no one heard him, or did they just ignore? That was something that was always on his mind. It was a constant reminder that he could not do anything. A constant reminder that he was alone. Yet this made him happy.

His head was heavy since he'd just recovered from the dark pit. He wondered a lot about things. Like how the world was like outside these four walls. What it was like to run in the sun or in the rain. What it was like watching the snow fall and most importantly, what he sounded like. It had been twelve years since he last spoke. Twelve years since they were separated. Since he was taken. Since he made the sacrifice.

He just hoped they were fine, safe and happy. Remembering them brought tears to his eyes. His good eye. He felt something stir within him. It felt warm and comfortable. It gave him the feeling of what it was like to love… and be loved. That emotion brought a smile to his face and certainty that he was human.

Ralph reminisced their fun times and sad ones alike. These memories trickled through his mind like sand in an hourglass sliding down the sloppy edges. The more he remembered, the more he felt fulfilled. The more tears he shed. The more his heart ached.

His head began hurting for it was too much to take in all at once. Ralph moved his broken right leg to a more comfortable position, hissing all the way. His lungs burned cause he took in too much air all at once, furthermore, that was what they broke first. It was no accident as they claimed. He had a feeling they did it intentionally to silence him.

His poor ribs had never recovered since that day. Every breath he took was shallow, labored and full of pain. Still he kept at it. Than knew nothing of what they talked about. Or what they asked him constantly. They also never believed him, no matter how hard he tried.

Ralph's feet were full of bruises and cuts from all the chains and times he tried to run away. He never got far though, due to his overworked lungs. And each time they caught him, they'd drag him to play tag with the dogs before returning him to his new home, the cell. His fingernails were either broken or bloody. His fingers had been broken into very disturbing angles.

Ralph's hands had gone numb from all the pain. Blood had been dripping from his mouth for a while but that didn't seem to alarm him in any way. His left cheek and right eyes were swollen from all the punches he'd received. He was surprised his teeth had not fallen out yet. He was sure his right hand was broken since he couldn't feel it. His femur was broken too since he couldn't stand or crawl without it screaming pain.

Ralph had never seen the color of the cage he was trapped in. The light never seemed to work, whether it was intentional or not he didn't care. And even though the one outside did, it didn't help much. His stomach angrily scolded him. They hadn't fed him in days and this seemed like one of them too. He, for so long had called out to death to come and take him away. Alas! It never did.

"Hello?" a voice he was always glad to hear filled his ears. He looked up abruptly, his head bumping into the wall he was leaning on. His vision was blurry, he couldn't make out anything yet. Deep in his heart, Ralph hoped they were not playing tricks on him. That the one person who cared about him here was not taken away too. That she would die because of him too.

Sasha, her name was, was the only one who risked her life here to help him anyway she could. She would tell him of how the world outside his four walls had changed, his imagination would do the rest.

"I have something for you,," she squealed. This little tradition of hers always amused him. He was about to laugh when a pang of pain spread throughout his lungs like wildfire. He tried filling them with air only to fail. Tear fought to escape through his eyes. Pain beyond anything he had felt so far made his head throb. In a distance, Ralph could hear Sasha yelling his name.

She seemed sad. He tried clearing his view by blinking but that didn't help much. He coughed and all that came out was blood and a colorless substance. The light in his view began fading. Ralph was sure this was it, however unlike before, he was scared. He did want it to end but not like this. Not just yet.

From the background, he could still hear Sasha calling out his name while threatening him. He looked her and what he saw broke him even more. Sasha's eyes were red from all the crying. Fear was written all over her face. She was looking for something in her pockets. Whatever it was of importance since she kept on going through the few pockets she had over and over again.

He wondered what she had brought him tonight and felt relieved. Ralph closed his eyes. Not so ready to leave but did not have a choice. He wanted to smile but pangs upon pangs of intensifying pain hit him again in waves. One greater than the last. Ralph felt himself fading. His mind when blank. The room was dark. Only his heart screamed. And only he, could hear it.

Sasha found whatever it was she was looking for and immediately took action. After what felt like an eternity, Ralph's lungs cleared and his took in air. It was still not enough for someone who had gone through more than three minutes without air. But all that mattered now was that he was breathing. She took out her handkerchief and wiped his bloody lips. Sasha then waited.

Ralph opened his eyes slowly, and his expression could tell anyone what he thought. He looked around. The cage came into full view.

"Welcome back," he had a voice say, he turned his head slowly toward it. Sasha. She looked like she wanted to him an earful but held back. This reminded him of his family. The love they shared and wondered if this was how it felt to be loved by a mother. Back in the day it was him and his siblings against the world.

They had overcome thick and thin together. Tears ran down his one good eye as memories occupied his mind once more. He zoned out. It felt so good when they were together. Until they got attacked for no reason. They were separated and even after his sacrifice. They told him that they had killed her. Ralph di not believe them, he still did not. He knew her she was strong, so they had to be lying.

Sasha was calling his name but he could not hear her. She gently touched him and this brought him back.

"Are you alright? Does it hurt?" she asked concerned. Sasha knew he couldn't answer because he was too broken and beaten to. She remembered what she had brought with her and turned to get it. It was food. Ralph's eyes lit up and a smile could be seen on him bruised lips. She fed him and told him of everything outside.

Sasha was still talking when she saw him freeze, staring at one point. Her heart palpitated faster. If what she thought was true, then she was dead for sure. She wasn't supposed to be here. No one was. She knew the risk but still went with it. She knew she would be caught but did not think it would be this soon.

It was the first rule everyone was given but she could not stand a human being treated like he was. She had to help. Mastering the courage she had left and turned in the direction Ralph had looked. The room was dark nothing was in sight. Yet Ralph still stared. He could still see something. Was he hallucinating? Had he finally lost it? Had he died? Questions kept flooding her brain seeking answers.

Sasha turned once more to search for whatever it was Ralph was seeing. Nothing. The room was empty. As she was about to ask Ralph what he was seeing she saw a hand stretching toward him at the corner of her eyes.

"Brother."