Chapter 157 Damnit!!!
The guard pushed himself away from the wall slowly.
"You should eat while the food is still there."
Alberto stared at him with clear irritation.
"I asked where my friends are."
The guard shrugged lightly.
"I am not here to answer questions."
Alberto felt frustration rise in his chest.
"Then why are you here?"
The guard glanced at the tray again.
"I brought food."
Alberto looked down at the bowl once more.
The thin liquid barely moved when the tray shifted slightly.
His lip curled in disgust.
"I cannot believe you expect anyone to eat that trash."
The guard chuckled quietly.
The sound echoed faintly against the stone walls.
"You are not in a position to complain."
Alberto lifted his head slightly.
"Maybe you have not noticed," he replied slowly, "but I cannot even reach the bowl from here."
The guard looked briefly at the chains attached to Alberto's wrists before shrugging again.
"That sounds like your problem."
Alberto stared at him with disbelief.
"So you bring food that I cannot reach and then tell me to eat it?"
The guard smiled faintly.
"You should have thought about that before ending up here."
Alberto's jaw tightened.
"You talk as if you know exactly why I am here."
The guard did not respond.
Alberto studied him more carefully now.
The man carried himself with the relaxed confidence of someone who did not fear the prisoner standing in front of him.
"Who are you working for?" Alberto asked.
The guard tilted his head slightly.
"You ask too many questions."
"And you answer none of them," Alberto replied.
The guard glanced once more at the tray.
"You should eat."
Alberto looked at the bowl again before shaking his head firmly.
"I would rather starve than eat that watery garbage."
The guard laughed openly this time.
The sound held clear amusement.
"You say that as if you are someone important."
Alberto narrowed his eyes.
"What is that supposed to mean?"
The guard folded his arms loosely across his chest.
"It means you do not look like someone who has the right to reject food."
Alberto felt anger stir in his chest.
"You think this situation is permanent?"
The guard shrugged.
"I think you should be careful about what little food you are offered."
Alberto watched him closely.
"So that is your advice?"
The guard pushed himself away from the wall again and walked toward the door.
"My advice is simple," he replied calmly.
He paused briefly before opening the door.
"You do not look like someone who should be rejecting meals."
With that he stepped outside and closed the door behind him.
The sound of the lock sliding into place echoed loudly through the quiet room.
Alberto remained hanging against the wall with his wrists chained above him, staring at the tray sitting just out of reach across the room.
Alberto remained against the wall with his wrists chained above him while his eyes stayed fixed on the tray resting across the room. The guard had left several minutes earlier, yet the silence in the cell still carried the echo of that man's laughter. The tray had not moved since it was placed on the bench, and the watery meal inside the bowl looked even less appealing now that it had been sitting there untouched.
His stomach gave a low growl that he tried to ignore.
Alberto shifted his shoulders slightly as the chains rattled above him. The metal links scraped against the wall with a dull sound that reminded him again of how little freedom he had in the moment.
He glanced once more at the bowl.
The thin liquid inside looked unpleasant, but hunger had a way of lowering standards quickly. His stomach growled again, louder this time, and he let out a slow breath through his nose as he considered the situation.
"This is ridiculous," he muttered quietly.
He studied the distance between himself and the bench again. The tray had been placed close enough that it almost seemed reachable, yet not quite close enough for comfort.
The guard must have known that when he placed it there.
Alberto lifted his arms slightly as the chains allowed, testing the amount of movement he still had. The metal restraints did not give much room, but he could lean forward a little if he stretched his body far enough.
His shoulders protested as he shifted his weight.
He leaned forward slowly, keeping his eyes on the tray while carefully stretching his right arm as far as the chain allowed.
His fingers extended toward the bowl.
They stopped just short.
Alberto clenched his jaw.
"You have got to be kidding me," he whispered under his breath.
He adjusted his footing on the stone floor and leaned forward again, this time pushing his body further despite the strain building in his shoulders. The chain above him rattled softly as he forced his arm another inch forward.
His fingers brushed the edge of the tray.
The contact made the metal slide slightly across the bench.
Alberto froze for a moment before slowly stretching again.
His stomach growled loudly this time.
"Yes, I hear you," he muttered to himself.
His fingers hooked against the tray carefully and pulled it closer toward the edge of the bench. The movement caused the bowl to wobble slightly, and Alberto immediately focused harder as he tried to keep the tray steady.
"Easy," he whispered.
The tray shifted again.
The bowl slid closer to the edge.
Alberto leaned forward as far as he could, extending his hand toward the bowl with slow precision.
His fingertips touched the rim.
Relief flashed briefly across his face.
"There you are," he murmured.
He carefully tried to grab the bowl.
The chain above him shifted unexpectedly.
His arm jerked slightly.
The bowl tipped.
Before Alberto could correct the movement the entire tray slid forward and the bowl flipped completely.
The thin liquid splashed across the stone floor.
Alberto watched it spill for a second before closing his eyes briefly.
"Dammit," he muttered under his breath.
The watery substance spread slowly across the cold stone while the empty bowl rolled sideways before coming to rest near the bench leg.
Alberto let his head fall back against the wall with frustration.
His stomach growled again.
"Great," he said quietly. "That worked perfectly."
He looked down at the mess on the floor with clear irritation.
Just as he opened his mouth to curse again the door to the cell opened.
Alberto lifted his head immediately.
A man stepped into the room.
Three guards followed behind him.