Say My Name

Say My Name - Part 5

"I'm sorry, Erik!" Linda cried, this time with Ulysses Klaue's arm around her neck and his gun to her head. He'd heard that from her a lot, recently.

"It'll be okay," he said to himself before shooting Linda in the head.

Erik had left her body there, electing instead to bring Klaue's body as his bargaining chip into Wakanda. He left her passport on her chest in the hopes that her body could be returned to her loved ones. He wasn't a complete animal.

He made a mental note to carve a scar in to his skin for her later as he flew the tiny hanger plane south west towards Wakanda.

After days of travel, Erik's heart soared as he touched down on Wakandan soil for the first time. This was the closest he had felt to his father since his murder. It was also the closest he'd felt to you since you'd been abducted: a feeling accentuated when the kimoyo beads on his wrist lit up and your face appeared.

"Welcome home, N'Jadaka."

–

Once his father's death had been avenged and he'd won the mantles of king and Black Panther from T'Challa, finding you was Erik's first priority. With the flames of the burning heart shaped herbs dancing in his eyes, he turned to the shaman woman.

"Y/N. Where is she?"

The old woman shrunk back as he spoke, a look of confusion on her face. She obviously did not know you, but was afraid to upset him.

"The prisoners. Where do they keep them?" Erik tried again.

"We do not have prisoners in Wakanda," she informed him. She scrambled to appease him as he glared. Her hands shot to her neck. "But we do have an old prison that has been out of use for generations."

–

The shaman was wrong. The prison had not been out of use for generations. It was very much populated and running. Erik had a feeling that it was kept secret from the general population, as there was one singular guard posted at the entrance of the jail.

It was old, however; completely unlike modern Wakandan technology. The prisoners were housed in one giant, rotating column operated by a singular hand crank. Each cell was shaped like a wedge, and prisoners only received daylight if they were fortunate enough to have their cell line up with the lone exit. Aside from that they were left in the dark with their own thoughts. The walls separating the cells were solid, so inmates could not even communicate with one another.

It was barbaric and inhumane.

Erik found himself hoping that you weren't here.

"Y/N. Rogue War Dog," Erik informed the guard.

The man simply nodded and moved to the hand crank. He cranked with all of his might. The cylindrical structure began to move. It creaked and squealed as it turned. The prisoners inside moaned and wailed as their cells passed by the door, desperate to be let out.

"Y/N?" he muttered, his voice breaking as the tower came to a screeching halt. He strained his eyes to see in to the dark and dingy cell. He didn't even notice that he was holding his breath.

"Hey, babe."

Erik exhaled sharply, as you came in to view. You limped slightly as you approached him, shielding your eyes from the unfamiliar light. You'd lost some weight and were visibly exhausted, but you smiled when you saw him. Your soul was still intact. You were alive. He wasn't too late.

Erik let out an unexpected sob. A few tears escaped him and ran down his face.

"Get this door open! Get her out!" he barked at the guard.