46 Escape

"Here's your breakfast," an old man slid a tray of food under the cell.

Allyria grabbed the tray and placed it in front of Kaius who was sitting on the floor. It's their third breakfast today since they woke up from this place.

The smell of beef broth churned something in Allyria's stomach. She cradled the soup with two hands and let the warmth of it defrost her fingers. Hot food is a luxury she hasn't quite indulged in these past few days. The floor was too cold to sit on so she used her shawl as a mat.

Kaius didn't have his the last time they ran from the cabin so he had no choice but to sit on the cement floor. He also didn't like the fact removing his shirt for that; it would only make him wintrier.

The only thing she liked about this place was the food and nothing more. At least despite the unpleasant situation, the fares they were given were more than palatable.

But that doesn't excuse their poor treatment.

Allyria and Kaius only get two meals a day. They haven't bathed since they arrived and the only time they were allowed to go out was when they had to go to the bathroom—for the lack of a better word. It was nowhere near like it. No faucet or shower, just a toilet bowl in a small cubicle.

"We have to leave this place," Kaius said as he took a spoon of broth. He hasn't slept properly lately, guarding Allyria and observing everything that's going on but it's been days and he hasn't found anything that could be of use to their escape.

Allyria asked for her sword yesterday from another man, not the guy from the forest—she couldn't call her a guard since he didn't seem like it and he had the same type of clothing Kaius was wearing—although the only reply she got was a shake in the head.

"I'm doing my best," Allyria said pertaining to her plan. She attempted to reach for the keys from the man's pocket when everyone was already asleep but was alarmed when there wasn't any. Allyria thought the other guy must have seized it from him for extra security knowing what she's capable of.

"We could've been back in the castle now."

"Sad to say, we got kidnapped instead," she stated the obvious and laughed to herself. Why is it that every time they think they're already safe, something happens?

The old man knocked on the cell, "Two minutes," he said. They had two minutes to finish their breakfast. Even a supposed ordinary activity needed to be timed.

Once they were finished, they placed the plate back into the tray and slid it out of the cell. The guard grabbed it and walked away. She wasn't sure how distant the way out was but it's nothing near the cell they are in.

The only thing she couldn't understand was that if this was really a dungeon with prisoners, how come she couldn't hear anyone from the prison cell beside them? It seemed as if they were the only ones occupying it.

"Allyria," Kaius called.

She turned over to him. He pulled something from his back and showed it to her.

"A spoon?" Allyria asked, the amusement evident on her face, "What are we supposed to do with that?"

Kaius was lucky he didn't get caught earlier when the guard took back the tray. He stared back at her, serious, "We're getting out of this hell hole."

This time, Allyria almost died laughing, "We… we're using a spoon?" she asked in a soft voice, her laughter still persisting, "How do we even do that?" she wiped the tear from the corner of her eye.

Kaius set his lips together, his eyes in a boring stare. He might have experienced so many horrors these days but he was still thinking clearly. He wouldn't want to lose his mind just because they got trapped in a four-cornered dark room.

Allyria continued to laugh until the thought suddenly dawned on her.

"Wait," he stopped and looked at him like she couldn't believe what he was planning, "You are going to dig a tunnel with… with that?" she pointed the spoon.

Kaius nodded, "We could manage to break the walls if we find something around. I'm sure there's soil behind all these."

"But even if we manage to do it, it wouldn't be that easy."

"It's better than nothing," Kaius replied. "Do you have a better plan in mind?"

Allyria went silent. Everything she's thought of was useless. But she knew she'll eventually find a way, "I'm working on it."

"I'll give you a month."

Allyria's eyes widened, "What? That's unfair. You have a plan that's seriously a year long before we escape and now you'll give me a month to think of something?"

"Did I mention anything about a year?"

"What are you proposing?"

"Start digging."