Making It

Aadan knew that he had to try and stitch his friend back together. but this was impossible. The boy handled the sewing needle and fishing line NIne had given him, swallowing hard, forcing the bile back down his throat.

Ok, here it goes! He thought. At that moment, Jonah's eyes fluttered and he awoke.

"Jonah!" Aadan grabbed his hand, squeezing it hard.

Aadan, how is it?" He tried to ignore his head spinning in circles.

"You'll be fine," Aadan was lying and it was obvious.

"The truth!" Jonah's voice was still weak, and he was losing blood by the second.

"You've lost a lot," Aadan put a hand on Jonah’s shoulder "I have to try and stitch you back together. Nine left me some supplies, but listen, it's gonna hurt. It's gonna hurt like hell."

"If you don't do it, will I die?" Jonah’s voice was breathless. Aadan nodded. "Then do it."

Aadan threaded the needle. "This isn't going to feel very good." Jonah inhaled a deep breath and nodded for Aadan to continue. He tried to steady his hand and with a gentle pressure, eased the needle through his friends' flesh, making sure to grab enough of the underlying tissue to hold it together.

Jonah clenched his teeth and slammed his head back to the floor. Even though he didn't want to, he let out a choked sob as the fishing line pushed and pulled his bruised skin.

"Try and think about something else," Aadan suggested as he threaded the line through Jonah.

"Nuh-uh," Jonah’s eyes were squeezed shut. "I don't think I can. Shit this hurts!"

"I know," Aadan replied. "But you do want to live don't you?"

"Uhm," Jonah said with his head pressed hard against the table. "I'll tell you my answer when you're done, cause right now you won't like what I have to say. Do you think you can unchain me from the table at least?" Jonah asked. "These chains are killin my wrists." The blood he had drawn from them earlier was drying on his skin, and the bruises were rising to the surface

Aadan shook his head. "I don't want you to move, I'm not done yet. And besides, it's taking your mind away from this pain a little isn't it?"

"If you say so. Ah! Aadan please be careful." He begged.

"I'm trying. This wire sucks to suture with.”

"It sucks to have pulled through your skin too," Jonah tried hard to joke about something, anything to wrench his mind away from what he really wanted to think.

"How much longer until McCabe gets here?" Aadan asked, more to distract Jonah than anything.

Jonah didn't bother with a reply. He knew that chances of their Captain coming for them were slim to none.

"Never mind, I know the answer. But you know what?" Aadan continued, taking care to not injure Jonah more than necessary. "If I'm going to die, I'm glad it will be like this, you know? Dying for my country, standing up for something I truly believe in, saving the lives of my friends. Is there a better way to die?"

Jonah was severely impressed with the courage his friend was showing. He was scared, scared to death, and he felt like a coward next to Aadan.

"What am I saying?" Aadan asked, his hand paused in mid-stitch. "I don't want to die, not yet anyway." Jonah was forced to smile. He knew the feeling well. You've been trained to deal with death as just another occurrence, mourning it shortly and not letting it affect your daily activities. But all the training in the world doesn't change the fact that when faced with a decision of death or loyalty, turning traitor looks much more appealing.

"Does anyone really want to die?" Jonah was forced to ask, bracing himself as Aadan inserted another stitch.

"I don't know," Aadan replied. "There, I'm done." He unchained Jonah from the table and helped him sit up. "It's gonna hurt for awhile still, and it may bleed periodically, but it should heal okay."

"I'm gonna have one major scar though," Jonah glanced at the shoddy suturing.

"I couldn't help that, could I?"

"I know you couldn't. I’m just sad at the loss of my perfect chest.”

"Whatever.”

"Jealous," Jonah muttered as he wavered, testing his legs on the hard floor.

"Right," he replied, grabbing Jonah's arm to steady him and wincing as Jonah instinctively
wrapped a hand around his back, dragging fingers along the barely healing scars.

"How are we gonna do this Aadan?" Jonah asked as placed a hand on the wall nearest him.

"What?" Aadan returned.

"How are we gonna take any more of this?"

"The same way we always do," Aadan sighed, rubbing his eyes with his hands, feeling the
effects of weeks of torture. He was exhausted and knew that if Agent were to continue at this pace for much longer, it would be the end of both of them.

"What's the point?" Jonah continued as if he didn't hear Aadan. "What, really, is the point? If we make through another day with Agent, there will be, another day with Agent. Aadan I can't do this for much longer."

"It’ll only get worse," Aadan agreed, running his hands through his filthy hair. "Agent's not gonna make it any easier."

"Yea," Jonah said. "Can you imagine another month here?"

"Don’t do that. I don’t even want to think about it. But if that's what it comes to, then I'll do it. And you will too, you know you will."

"Yea I know," Jonah answered. "I'm just not sure how."

They both heard Nine round the corner outside their room at the same time. Jonah wanted to die, right there. Aadan wanted to cry again, just bury himself in his knees and cry until everything was all right. Jonah and Aadan exchanged glances. There was something different about these footsteps; they were hurried, almost panicked.

The next moment, Nine burst through the door. His hair was disheveled, and he looked angry. The twins followed him closely into the room, standing side by side.

"I have had enough. I will get an answer now, from either of you, I care not."

"What's going on?" Jonah asked. A feeling was cautiously growing in his chest by every second passing.

"Is there someone out there?" Aadan asked, hope's head peeking it's way out of the black hole that had taken over his mind.

"Some of the men got a little drunk and are having a bit of a spat. That's all."

"Right, the fact that you bothered to offer any explanation at all, is proof that you're lying. There is someone out there. Someone’s come for us.”

Nine’s face broke open wide in a smile. "My poor boy, you are still delusional. Maybe I did cut a might deep. Next time, I won't be so careless." His words caused Aadan to falter some in his resolve.

"We're not done," Nine grabbed Aadan’s chin and forced those eyes to look at him. "Until I say we're done." The twins came up beside Jonah and seized his arms, pulling them uncomfortably taught behind his back.

"I am giving you the chance Jonah, your last chance. Tell me where it is, or say goodbye to him." Nine had walked behind Aadan. He kicked the boy in the back of the knees; his legs buckled and he went down. Nine grabbed his blonde hair and stretched his head backwards, exposing his throat.

"You know my answer," Jonah said, fighting against the twins. “You knew it before you walked in the room. That’s why you’re scared.”

Nine withdrew a knife from his pocket and placed it along Aadan's Adams apple. "Well, Aadan, obviously your life means a lot to Jonah, but what about to you? If you tell me where it is, I'll spare your life."

“I would rather die,” Aadan answered, his hands hanging limply by his side. “Than be as detestable as you are.”

“I’m sure I can arrange something along those lines.” Aadan could feel the tip of the blade puncture his skin. His chest felt warm as the blood ran down from his cut.

“You’re not going to win,” Jonah said as he heard more hurried voices from the hallway. “You never were.”

Nine released Aadan. He drug his fingernails down the boy’s back, breaking open wounds that were finally starting to heal. Aadan hissed in a breath but refused to cry out. Nine kicked him out of the way and approached Jonah.

“Fine,” he said, nodding to the twins who dropped Jonah’s arms. “If I don’t win, you don’t either.”

“We already have,” Aadan commented from his corner. “Even if you kill us, the DGSE will never find out where our camp is. In other words you’ve failed.”

Nine motioned to the twins who each grabbed a boy and exited the room.

“I have decided that there is no longer a need for my services here.” Nine spoke, as they made their way quickly to the basement. “I will be leaving you soon. But I want you to know that I have greatly enjoyed our time together.” A voice from above them caused Nine to stop suddenly. Jonah couldn’t hear exactly what was being said but he knew the language, and it wasn’t French.

“Captain!” Jonah shouted. “Down here!” The man holding Jonah raised his fist and smashed it down the side of his face, breaking his lip wide open.

“Say anything else,” Nine warned. “And he’ll break your jaw.”

They all flew down the corridor, aiming for a door at the end through which a slight glow was showing. As they entered the room Jonah’s heart skipped. Guillotines.

“I am quickly running out of time,” Nine said as the twins strapped down Jonah and Aadan on the long wooden benches in the center of the room. “So I will leave you to finish my job for me. You will be responsible, one for the other.” The boys were held down on their backs with a strap across their stomachs and their legs. The twins placed a bar in Jonah’s hands.

“When your arms become tired of holding the weight of the bar,” Nine explained as Aadan also received a bar. “And you drop it, the guillotine that is above the other bench will fall.”

Jonah heard Aadan mumble something that sounded like Jesus Christ!

“Boys, it has been a pleasure,” Nine said, and with a slight bow, he followed the twins out of the room.

“I sincerely hope that is the last time I see him,” Aadan said, his arms raised above his head.

Hey Aadan, how much can you bench?”

“Ha-ha, I was thinking of asking you the same question. Did you really hear McCabe earlier
or were you just trying to frighten Agent?”

“I don’t know who it was,” Jonah admitted. “But they were definitely speaking English.”

“How long do you think until they find us?” Aadan asked. “Cause I didn’t not go through a month of hell with Agent to die with our squad so close to rescuing us.”

“Well probably a while if we keep talking and don’t yell for help.” Jonah began to feel the weight in his arms.

“Good point,” Aadan replied. “Hey!”

“Captain! Down Here!” Jonah yelled, hearing Aadan do the same. “Let’s do it together.”

“One, two, three, Hey!” Aadan counted off. The boys could hear footsteps above them, some running and some walking.

“They have to hear us,” Jonah said, his voice starting to get slightly desperate. “This bar is getting a might heavy you know.”

“Well, why don’t you put it down for awhile and have a rest,” Aadan suggested. “Maybe I’ll do the same.”

Jonah laughed and Aadan could see the blade above his throat quiver slightly. “I would suggest not making me laugh any more than absolutely necessary.” Jonah said as he rearranged his grip on the metal. Heavy footsteps resounded directly above them.

“Hey!” Jonah yelled. “Stephens, Walker, McCabe! We’re down here!” After a few minutes, the boys could distinctly hear the footsteps moving away.

“I can’t hear the footsteps anymore Jonah,” Aadan said softly.

“Shut the hell up, Aadan.”

“I can’t hear them,” Aadan said again, his arms sagging slightly. “Maybe they passed us by. Maybe we will die down here.”

“Bull crap!” Jonah shouted. “There’s no way! Stay with me here Aadan. A full month putting up with Agent’s hell and you’re ready to give in now?”

“Jonah, it could take them two days to search this place, there’s no way I can hold this bar up that long,” Aadan was talking barely above a whisper. “I don’t think I can hold it for another five minutes.”

“Not yet, Aadan, please not yet,” Jonah was becoming hysterical. “We’re so close. Don’t you see?” Aadan didn’t answer him. Jonah was suddenly overwhelmed with the value of life. “I don’t want to die. Aadan, McCabe is right up there. Just hold out until we can get his attention. And, for god’s sake, help me a little.”

Jonah started yelling again, this time one-sided as Aadan refused to speak. Jonah couldn’t stand the thought of letting Nine win, not after all the crap he had put them through. They were so close! Please, Jonah prayed. Please, just help us this once, alright? His eyes were transfixed on the blade above his throat. It lowered slightly. Jonah’s eye’s widened as the blade gave a sudden jerk and Aadan whimpered from the bench close by.

“Hold on Aadan,” Jonah muttered. “A little longer.”

“Captain, should we check the basement?” Jonah heard a voice from the doorway but he was too weak to respond. Yes, please God, check the basement.

“Down here,” the voice called. “They’re down here.”

Thank You Jonah thought as he heard his captain’s voice and felt the pressure lift from his arms. Later, as Aadan lay beside him in the army hospital with matching bandages wrapped around his battered body, Jonah cried. This time, however, the tears were liquid relief and thankfulness. Aadan had eventually woken up when Captain was explaining what had become of agent and the twins. The boys had made it to their end, which turned out better than either of them had expected. They had conquered, they had won, they had endured.