Kingdom of Heroes Read Online Free

across the ceiling. There was something in his throat, round, deep, a tube, preventing him from talking, from breathing. He clutched at it, tried to pull it out, but he couldn’t maintain a grip.
    Two guards stood beside him, large men, massive men, holding his arms down. The doctor with the brown hair stood over him, staring down into his face.
    “It’s okay,” she said softly with the same soft tone he had always appreciated. “This will only hurt for a moment.”
    She reached down and ripped the tube out of his mouth.
    He wanted to scream; the pain was excruciating, but all he could do was sit up and inhale the deepest breath of his life. And then there was nothing but darkness.
    _______________________________________________
     
    Prisoner 616 opened his eyes. The room was bright, and the smell of sanitizer filled his senses. He felt paper beneath him. It all reminded him of why he hated doctor offices.
    “You awake?” The doctor with the brown hair and kind voice asked. She had apparently been standing beside him the whole time. He lifted his head and looked toward the door; the two guards stood beside it, both staring at him with malicious intent.
    “Is he ready yet?” The larger of the two guards asked, a man that 616 could have sworn used to be the super-powered criminal called The Constrictor. Of course, he could have been wrong.
    The doctor turned towards the guard. “He will be ready when I say he is ready. No sooner, no later.”
    “He has people waiting,” the guard growled, his large nostrils flaring out as he spoke.
    “And I could care less,” she said in return. “I have final say on prisoner health in this facility, and you will wait on me to have him ready for his visit. Understood?” The last word came out of her mouth with a slight growl of her own.
    “Yes, ma’am,” the guard said with a nod.
    She pointed toward the door. “Out. Both of you, stand guard on the outside until I’m finished with him.”
    Without a single word of argument, the two large men turned around and walked through the door.
    She turned back towards 616. “Now, any arguments out of you?”
    “Nope,” he answered, finding out for the first time just how much speaking hurt his damaged throat. “How long was I out?”
    “About twenty minutes,” she answered as she poked and prodded the various orifices on his face.
    “No,” he said in return. “How long was I in the box?”
    She stopped her exam and looked him in the eyes. “About a year.”
    “Same government in charge, I assume?”
    “Yes.” She went back to examining him.
    “And that’s who’s here to see me?”
    “How do you know that?”
    He smiled as much as he could. “Who else would want to visit a man convicted of treason? The local Ladies Auxiliary?”
    “They were disbanded five years ago,” she replied while examining his bare legs.
    “Crying shame,” he said, just then realizing he was only dressed in a hospital gown. “I used to love their bake sales.”
    “Oh well,” he said as he scooted himself to the edge of the table, slightly pushing her out of the way as he did. “Never let it be said that I kept a couple of government suits waiting. That would just be rude.”
    “I’m not done with you.”
    He lowered himself to the floor, not exactly sure that his legs would support his full weight. He wobbled for a moment, momentarily reaching out to the table to steady himself, only to find himself feeling solid on his feet after a few seconds. “Who knew standing could be such an adventure?” He said, looking back at the doctor with a grin.
    “I said I am not done with your examination,” she said in return, her voice the same growl she had used on the guard.
    “Sorry Doc,” he said as he slowly walked towards the door. “But I’ve never been one to put off the inevitable.” He opened the door and stepped out, leaving her shaking her head at him as he walked out of the