Hounds of Orion

Cameron eye’s had just barely closed, when the sound of heavy footsteps on the concrete floor caused his eyes to open once again. The prison was empty, save for its only occupant, him. So when the sound continued to grow in volume he knew there could only be one reason. Something was about to happen, whether he liked it or not. He sat up on his cot and rubbed the sleep from his eyes, blinking rapidly to get them to focus. He could feel their protests of use, and felt a sharp ache in the left one, signaling a burst blood vessel. This, coupled with the oily sheen he felt on his face and his ball clothing he still wore, bloodstained and wrinkled, told him all he needed to know about how appeared. Exhausted and pathetic. Still, he managed to force a look of confidence on his face, as the footsteps came to a stop right outside his cell.

“Is it breakfast already?” He called out to the unseen person, likely a guard coming to check on him. When no one answered, he hopped up, walking towards the bars. “I don’t suppose you guys take special orders do you?”

“Unfortunately,” Logan responded, his gravelly voice giving Cameron pause, “We were a little short on time, so you’ll have to make do with what we can provide.”

Cameron took a moment, his smile dropping as he tried to find the meaning in Logan’s words.

“… What are you doing here Logan?”

“I told you. I was going to get you another option. And I did.”

“What?” Cameron’s voice came out more desperate than he had wanted, but he couldn’t help it. He reached out, wrapping his hands on the cool steel bars and squeezing them in a white knuckled grip. “What do you mean?”

There was pause, followed by a weary sigh from Logan. “I mean… I can get you out of here… I am getting you out. But, it’s not going to be in the way you expect… or approve of.”

“W-What do you mean?” Cameron asked, his voice cracking from the hope that was slowly welling up in his chest. “If you can get me out of here, I don’t care what you do! Just do it!”

Another pause. A longer one this time, with Cameron chewing his bottom lip as impatiently waited.

“Logan? Are you still there?” He asked, worry in his voice as he feared he had scared the man off.

“Just… Do me a favor.” Logan called back, breaking the silence. He was still out of sight but something in the way he was speaking didn’t sit right with Cameron. It was almost as if he was… pleading with him. Like when a parent was struggling to tell their child they pet had died. It was unsettling, but Cameron wasn’t about to let his freedom slip through his fingers just because Logan felt bad.

“Sure. Anything. What is it?” Cameron called out, pressing his face to the bar, trying to see where the man was. It couldn’t find him in the darkness but he heard his voice only a few feet off to his left.

“Promise me you’ll keep your mouth shut until I tell you it’s okay. You’re probably going to react once things are made… official. But you have a role to play in this, same as you. How I play that role depends on how you react. I have no qualms doing this the easy way or the hard way. But I’d rather do it the easy way. No I can’t tell you what’s going on right now. No one else can either. But I promise I’ll explain everything when it’s over. Understood?”

Cameron couldn’t help it, the curiosity to know outweighed his yearning for freedom in that moment.

“Logan what the hell are you -”

“Just say you understand Cameron.” Logan’s voice was flat and cold, causing a tremor of apprehension to shoot up Cameron’s spine. He wanted to know more. Needed to even. But, he resigned himself to obey Logan’s request.

“I understand.” He said, before closing his mouth.

“Good.” Logan acknowledged before stepping into Cameron’s vision for the first time. He was dressed in the same attire he had worn when Cameron first saw him; combat boots,tactical pants and a sleeveless compression shirt, his uplink threads on full display. Cameron opened his mouth to make a comment on the outfit but a warning look from Logan was enough for him to clamp down and stay silent. Logan waited a moment, before nodding and pulling a key out of his pocket.

“I told the guard I should be the one to do this.” He muttered as he put the key into the lock and unlocking the door with a low, rumbling thunk.

The door slid open, allowing Cameron to step out into the dimly lit hall. He looked around, seeing the barely furnished environment of the jail before turning back to Logan, raising an eyebrow as if to ask ‘What next?’.

Logan nodded forward, pointing with his chin to the heavy metal door, leading to the exit saying only one word. “Walk.”

***

Cameron was conflicted as he and Logan made their way through the winding hallways of the palace. On one hand he was happy, grateful even to be out of that cell, breathing clean air once again. But the mood had been soured by the foreboding mood that hung in the air. There was an unsettling silence that permeated throughout the palace, and Cameron spent a long time trying to figure out why. Then he noticed how empty the hallways were. No servants hustling and bustling throughout the complex. No minor nobility schmoozing and politicking in the various salons and gathering rooms. The whole palace was empty. At least it appeared to be.

Then Logan rounded a corner and Cameron understood. The large alabaster doors leading to the throne room were open, and the room was packed. Servants, nobles, and guards were jammed inside, filling the room on either side, leaving a space leading to the throne large enough for Cameron and Logan to walk through side by side.

“Remember what I said.” Logan said in a sharp whisper. Cameron looked over to the man to find him looking forward, jaw set and face devoid of any emotion as he clarified. “Do what you’re told and keep quiet. Don’t make me do this the hard way.”

Cameron could only nod, before swallowing hard, his throat scratchy and dry. Logan nodded back and started walking again, causing Cameron to match his gait as the pair entered the throne room eyes forward, gazing on the group waiting to recieve them.