It's dawn

A large and uncomfortable thud echoed as he was thrown down like a sack of rice. The door behind him shut tightly; iron clashing iron and a huge click to lock it. He coughed and choked, inhaling the stuffy air that is in the cell.

He tried standing up but to no avail. On his knees, something dripped from his forehead to the ground; sweat or blood he could not make out. Then, an arm swooped over his shoulder and helped him up.

"Up and at it, son. You can sit right here," said the man with the scrawny arms as he escorted the hurt man to a stool.

His eyes were too swollen to open. He could not see the man but felt his breath as he slowly guided him. He tried making himself comfortable as the stranger made his way to the opposite of the cell. He dragged another stool and sat down himself.

"Thank you..." he said with gratefulness to his aide and used the wall to lean on his back.

"Can you open your eyes, son?" his cell mate asked.

He tried opening but his mate quickly continued, "It doesn't matter... It's too dark in here anyway."

With that, he stopped trying and rested from all the battering and torture. He pressed his arms and rubbed them to make them feel less sore but the wounds and scratches prevented further comfort. He gave in and hoped that the pain will just go away.

"Your name?" his cell mate asked, breaking the silence between them.

"Adam," he said weakly.

"Well, Adam, please to meet you, even in these circumstances. The name's Lloyd," he replied and the name unsettled Adam.

"T.J. Lloyd?" Adam asked, now looking up, even trying to open his eyes to see the master of this legendary name.

"That's me," he answered in an almost uncannily manner. Then silence came to the fore again as Adam tried to organize his thoughts.

He could hear Lloyd's slow breathing rhythm as it echoed in the cell. It was a quiet night but the air was humid and it did not help stop his already rapid perspiration. He raised his hand to wipe off some sweat, yet only find himself in pain from the bruises and wounds.

"What they have you in here for?" Lloyd asked, again trying to find a common ground with Adam.

"I refused to sign the pledge," Adam answered and to his surprise, Lloyd found his answer amusing.

"I don't get the funny part," Adam protested plainly.

Lloyd stopped laughing and said, "I just didn't thought that anybody out there would still have some fight in him."

Adam paused in his thoughts, carefully musing Lloyd's statement.

"Didn't he promised peace, prosperity and stability?" Lloyd continued.

"Lies," Adam answered plainly again.

Lloyd chuckled loudly.

"I like you. This place could use some more people like you," he said, after his laughing subsided.

"And you," Adam replied to which silenced the both of them for a spell. A tiny breeze found its way through the iron-barred windows, high above the prisoners.

"Why didn't you sign the pledge?" Lloyd asked meekly and continued, "The Dictator would have you in a good life straight away."

"Why did you fight then?" Adam answered his question with this thought.

Lloyd grew silent. His breathing was noticeably heavier. He stood up, the stool pushed behind. He went over to Adam and looked at him.

"Your eyes are swollen," Lloyd said and touched Adam's forehead, "Your head is bleeding," and he examined Adam's arms, "Your arms are battered... Your body is bruised... You're hurt... Why?" he paused for a moment, waiting for Adam's reply.

But when no reply came, Lloyd helped him, "Because you believe, Adam, that somewhere under the nicely put promises and benefits, is a lie and a lie that kills, robs and wants our souls sold to this man... We fought, have our bones and sinew crushed, bleed and bruised because," and he leaned on the wall next to Adam, "we believe that beyond this hell, where you and I are robbed of our choice, our freedom, is a better tomorrow," and he ended.

The rebel leader had sent Adam straight into deep thought.

"But you'll be gone tomorrow," Adam said, remembering that tomorrow would be a day of celebration for the man whom had cursed this land with fear.

The sound of boots tapping on the cement floor slowly filled the silent air. Adam sat up.

"I have two beautiful children," Lloyd said in a soft, almost whispering tone. Adam sensed sadness in his voice.

He was able to see clearer now. The swell had slowly subsided but all he could see was a silhouette of a thin man for light was scarce in the cell.

The boots were getting louder.

Lloyd, however, seemed disinterested as he continued leaning on the wall. The first light of the day broke into the cell, illuminating the dark a little. Lloyd looked up to the window.

"It's dawn," he said as the guards now stood in front of their cell. One had a cuff, the other a baton ready to beat the daylights out of any prisoner reasoning to escape.

Adam looked up to Lloyd, taking one last good look at him. His arms were scrawny but strong. His body bruised but held pride. Lloyd replied him with a smile.

"Do you still believe that there's new hope every morning?" Lloyd asked as the guards opened the door and stepped into the cell.

Lloyd held up his hands as the guard cuffed him.

"I still do," Adam answered hastily.

"Good. My children too... Keep believing it," Lloyd replied as he stepped out, the door shutting tight behind him.

Their footsteps slowly disappeared... From loud to soft, from near to far.

Silent again befell Adam but the morning light continued shining, chasing away darkness as it grew stronger.

-End-

*disclaimer: Any resemblance to persons living or dead is pure coincidental and have not in any way been portrayed deliberately so, in this short depiction of a controlled and a society bereft of freedom and instated with fear through authoritarian hands, all in the name of peace.