2 Survive

Linkin quickly examined his surroundings trying to formulate a plan of escape. He would not simply wait here for his death to come without doing anything at all.

The person wearing the strange mask began to hum softly as though they were singing a tune. As he was doing so, he picked up an axe nearby and started to sharpen its edges on a sharpening stone.

Linkin knew that this was his chance to put in motion his plan. He began to gather some of the loose dust and gravel on the floor into the palm of his hand, being very discreet so as to not attract the attention of the man sharpening the axe. Linkin then began to let out a small groan as though he were in a lot of pain. The truth was that he was in an incredible amount of pain, however, he had to endure if he wanted to survive.

The man heard Linkin groaning about in pain as he sucked his teeth, "Aye shut it will ya? You'll be dead soon enough, no more pain then right?" the man then went back to humming a tune before slowly starting to actually sing in a low voice.

"Your voice... It sounds nice..." Linkin struggled to speak to make himself appear as weak and frail as possible.

The man with the strange mask stopped grinding the axe, setting it down on the side for a moment and turned to look at Linkin. He then walked over and pulled him to sit up properly before looking at him and saying, "Do ya really think so?" although Linkin could not see the man's face, from the tone of his voice alone one could tell that he was excited.

"I've always wanted to be a singer in the performance world. But my father would've had my head if I took up singin', said it's a woman job to sing." The masked man said.

Linkin winced from the pain of being moved so suddenly, but he still kept up his calm appearance. "Nonsense, why would someone be born with such an amazing voice if their purpose was not to sing? It seems like you and your father didn't get along too well..."

The masked man let out a sigh, "Me and my father never much got along. Always said I was too busy singin' instead of tendin' to the fields... Always let my sisters sing. Sometimes he would strike my throat and said he'd make sure I can never sing again if I kept havin' such silly dreams."

Tears started to form in Linkin eyes as he listened to the masked man speak. "How cruel... Now you're stuck doing a job like this? What kind of father would ignore the dreams of his own son?"

"...You know, you ain't so bad after all. It's a shame I gotta kill ya..." the masked man was moved by how Linkin genuinely seem to care about his circumstances. No one had ever shown him that kind of care before.

Linkin started wiping the tears from his eyes using his wrist, "I have a small request then... I do not wish to die in chains. I was born without chains and I would like to die without chains... This is just a silly wish of mine, my friend." Linkin smiled at the masked man, his eyes filled with desperation.

The masked man made a strange expression underneath his mask, but after thinking it over a moment he decided what to do. "Okay... I can do that, friend." he felt as though Linkin was someone who truly understood him. The man took a key off the belt at his side to unlock the chains bounding Linkin's hands and feet.

"Thank you... You'll always be a true friend in my heart. I only have one final wish... I wish to see the face of the man I called a friend in this life" Linkin said looking as though he'd already accepted his fate.

The masked man was filled with regret for having to take Linkin's life, but if he did not then someone else would and they may even make Linkin suffer against the wishes of the noble lady. The least he could do was make his new friend's death quick and painless. He then removed his mask so Linkin could see his face properly.

A smile crept onto Linkin's face... All of a sudden he flung his hand forward tossing the dust and gravel into the eyes of the man!

It was time to make his escape!