Uprising
Half-dead, Jack was dragged to his small cell window. It would take all of his strength to stand on his single foot, but his friends helped him up and rested the knee of his bad leg on the small stool that was the only piece of furniture in the bleak prison. Once Jack was positioned so he could see perfectly out the window his pal, John, handed him a longbow, a small amount of arrows, and a torch. It was a miracle they managed to steal a longbow, unlike guards, archers were very organized and alert. Jack prepared to give the signal shot, happy that his companions had given him an opportunity to do something helpful in the rebellion that was about to take place in three... two... one. Thwing! The flaming arrow flew through the sky and struck the stables. In the chaos made by the hay-fuelled fire Jack's fellow up-risers grabbed the fastest horses, already set apart from the rest, and heaved themselves into the saddles. Archers were soon firing at the fleeing escapees, and Jack was firing into the crowd of bowmen, getting a few strikes. All too soon Jack ran out of arrows, and could just watch as two of his kin were rendered helpless when they were knocked off their horses. Jack could see Rory turn back trying to help the men, but soon Rory, too, was crumpled on the ground.
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"Glad you could join me.' Jack stated sarcastically to Rory and Caleb as they were shoved roughly into his cell. Their wrists were bound so tight that their fingers were already purple, and they enough bruises each for ten men.
Almost immediately after entering the dark prison the guard escorting Jack's comrades noticed the longbow in Jack's grasp. Shoving Rory and Caleb into the corner of the pitiful room, the burly man snatched the weapon from Jack's pale fingers, and landed him a hard blow on the stomach. With a somewhat satisfied attitude, the guard strut out of the cell, slamming the heavy oaken door behind him.
Caleb stuck his tongue out at the retreating guard as he left, causing Jack a short fit of laughter, before clutching his bruised middle with a groan. Dragging himself across the filth-stained stone, Jack somehow managed to reach his friends and undo their bonds. Though his friends were not without complaint, the already tight bonds cut into their skin every time Jack tugged even the slightest bit at the knots, but finally the men were able to rub their stinging, although free, wrists.
"What do we do?" Rory asked, not meeting Jack's eyes. This caused Jack a slight smile,
"I thought you were the leader." At this Rory looked up, guilt and shame filling his dark eyes,
"Jacob died because I lead him wrong!" Rory whined, looking to watch small rats tear at the remaining crumbs from weeks ago. Jack's eyes widened at Rory, knowing he would gladly have died instead.
"But seven got away!" Jack replied. When Rory didn't respond Jack shook his friends shoulder hard, causing Rory to meet his gaze,
'Seven got away! We won, they are free, and Jacob understood that! He knew the risks!"
"I wish I could have saved him!" Rory's eyes watered up.
"Don't we all?" Jack sighed, leaning against the cold rough wall, wrapping his scrap of a blanket around Rory's shoulders, to help him block out the frigid wind, whistling in through the pathetic barred window.
As selfish as he felt for it, he was actually glad inside that he wouldn't have to spend another night alone in this dark place. He told himself that he wished his friends were out there free instead of here, but inside he knew it wasn't true. They gave everything, and here I am wishing them harm, Jack shuddered and fell into a fitful sleep.
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