No Peace for the Damned

coughed and grumbled then returned to the rhythm of his heavy snores. I peeked through my lids again and the scrawny man was back, still sleeping soundly with his head back against the wall.
    What…the fuck…was that?
    I pulled against the leather straps hard this time, but again, my arms barely lifted at all. Drugs could explain the hallucinations and the nausea, but what was with this weakness? Maybe there was a chain-linked interior to the straps or something…
    I stopped. The leather had cut into my wrist—a tanned, thick wrist that led to a firm, calloused hand with blunt nails and a thin scar across the knuckles.
    This wasn’t my hand.
    My mind worked furiously. This was not my body, not my memories. It was not
me
being held here. It was only a piece of my mind in this horrific place.
    Relief washed over me. Wherever I was, I was safe from this nightmare. But this body and mind were not. Whoever had been captured and brought to this place, he didn’t have my powers to free himself or to recover from whatever torture awaited. And I was here in his mind, experiencing it with him.
    I concentrated on separating my voice from his to hear those thoughts that weren’t my own. The collage of profanity in this man’s mind rang through, more impressive than anything I had ever heard. This guy was seriously pissed and seriously scared. Strangely, the thought of the emaciated woman returning frightened him more than any possible torture that was sure to come.
    He just didn’t know any better.
    The snoozing guard stirred again. We had to get out of here. Like, now. With a deep breath, I reached out with my thoughts.
    Um, calm down, please. I want to get you out of here
.
    Silence. Great. Maybe if I just tried to focus on this guy’s thoughts rather than trying to speak with mine…
    What the hell is wrong with me? I’m hearing fucking voices now? What the fuck did they give me?
    Thank God. I tried again with my most soothing voice
. Please, I’m not part of the drugs, but you have to let me help you get out of here
.
    Fuck that! These fuckers are going to pay for even thinking they could mess with my head!
    OK, this wasn’t working.
    Centering on his right arm, I forced my will and strength into his body. In a fast, smooth movement I pulled the wrist free from the leather binding without leaving so much as a burn on his skin.
    See, I can get you out of here if you’ll just shut up and listen to me!
    There was a long pause.
Mag?
    My thoughts scattered. The coined nickname, the sudden warm and violent fluttering inside me—how could I have not known? My family had captured Theo. And somehow, through the connection between us, I was with him.
    It took several moments for me to compose myself.
    I—I can get you out of here, but you have to give me some control
.
    How the hell am I supposed to do that?
    I just pulled your arm free because you didn’t fight me. Let me get you free from your restraints, then we’ll get the hell out of here
.
    You know where I am?
    Yes
.
    Movement from the corner caught us off guard. Our snoozing guard was awake. He hopped to the dirt floor with barely a thud and stretched his lanky arms to the ceiling.
    While the guard’s face was pointed at the ceiling in his stretch, I pulled Theo’s other arm and both legs free from their binds with one quick move. He gasped but was quiet enough not to gain the guard’s attention.
    What the…? Warn me before you do something like that again!
    Sorry
.
    The guard shot us a glance then looked steadily at his watch, counting the minutes to the next shift change. Suddenly his appearance changed again. From my mind’s eye I knew the man was still peering down at his watch, still calculating. But throughTheo’s eyes the disturbing blonde woman was back, and her black eyes looked wild as her gaze met ours.
    “Teddy Bear!” her voice scratched like broken glass. “You listen to me and get your skinny ass down there like Sonny said. Do you want to go back in the coal room?”
    Theo froze in horror.
    A protective impulse sprang to life inside me. I focused an angry surge of power from my consciousness into Theo’s, clearing his head and evaporating the hallucination. The small guard was still looking at his watch. No more than a couple of seconds had passed.
    Then the guard turned his full attention to us. A slow, creepy smile spread across his face, revealing a mouth full of stained little teeth.
    It was his last expression.
    Theo moved like a