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Description
The Boy in the Cage

Days into their solo expedition to Finland, Jude was convinced that all Professor Steele was REALLY looking for was a vacation from the non-stop excavation work back in Sweden. That wasn't unwelcome, technically it gave him a break from his assisting duties as well, but after a while he began to get antsy.

So, one afternoon while the professor was off doing...whatever he was doing, Jude picked a direction and started walking. He had his compass, and so long as he was back before dark he could probably convince Steele that he was at the pub all day.

Did he have a plan? Nope, but Jude figured that any plan he tried to make for a trip into creepy woods would probably fly out the window within the first five minutes anyway.

For the most part, all was peaceful. The chirpings of unseen birds and the occasional creaking tree branch were the only indications that Jude wasn't the only living thing in the forest, but only a few minutes into his walk he heard a sound so strikingly humanlike that it made him pause.

"Hello?"

Just stood stock still and tilted his head to the side, straining his ears.

It sounded like...moaning? Crying? It was soft, but it was still there. So he kept walking, following the sound. It stopped and started back again at odd intervals, but got louder as he kept walking. Jude gulped. Didn't ghosts usually haunt creepy woods? What if it was the spirit of a kid who wandered in and got lost and died? Shaking his head, he pressed onward. Show no fear. Fear is the enemy of new discoveries. After a little while longer of following the distressed cries, Jude stopped behind a large tree that was blocking his view, certain that his 'ghost' was just on the other side.

"Alright, a new discovery...please don't be a vengeful spirit or somethi- HOLY SHIT!"

That wasn't a ghost. Now he wished it was a ghost.

It was a boy, sitting bound in a cage that may have been made for a dog but looked uncomfortably human-sized in this situation. His light hair was braided back, allowing Jude to see the fear that shone in his blue eyes as he twisted around in his bonds and mumbled from behind his gag.

"Oh shit...oh sweet Mary Jesus fuck!" Jude yelled, and the boy flinched, whimpering.

"Nonono it's okay! It's okay...let me just- I'm gonna get you out." Jude whispered, holding his hands up in a way he hoped didn't look threatening as he approached the cage.

"Mrrrghh..."

The boy in the cage didn't look so convinced, shuffling toward the opposite side of the cage as he eyed Jude warily.

As he stood in front of the cage, Jude noticed more about the boy. He was...ethereal looking. Unlike Jude's skin that was blotchy when flushed and peppered with freckles, the face staring back at him was completely clear and pale. Had he not been trapped in the cage, Jude probably would have thought he was a wandering spirit.

"Hrmm, grmmph!" he was still mumbling, eyebrows furrowed.

Jude felt like he was about to throw up. Surely this young man was a human trafficking victim, though he had no idea where the kidnapper was and he didn't want to stick around long enough to find out.

"I'm sorry I...I don't know any Finnish." Jude apologized, fingers shaking as he unlatched the small door on the cage's side, "So uh...I come in peace? Please just, believe me, I'm not gonna hurt you and I hope I sound soothing probably not though I'm rambling."

The metal was heavy and creaked loudly as he pried the door open. Was this thing made of solid iron?

"Come on, lemme see your hands." Jude coaxed, reaching inside. The pale young man looked at Jude with an unreadable expression before finally shifting around and presenting his bound wrists, shackled together by more metal. Jude actually tasted bile in the back of his throat at the sight of the other's skin, rubbed raw and red underneath the manacles.

"Dammit! Hold on, lemme see if I have something." Jude shoved his hands into his pockets. Gum wrappers, a pen, pieces of petrified candy...and a safety pin!

"Alright, lemme see if this works."

Very, VERY carefully, Jude unlatched the pin and began poking around the lock on the other's restraints.

He just hoped he could get them unlatched before whoever was responsible for this came back.

Description
The Boy in the Cage

Days into their solo expedition to Finland, Jude was convinced that all Professor Steele was REALLY looking for was a vacation from the non-stop excavation work back in Sweden. That wasn't unwelcome, technically it gave him a break from his assisting duties as well, but after a while he began to get antsy.

So, one afternoon while the professor was off doing...whatever he was doing, Jude picked a direction and started walking. He had his compass, and so long as he was back before dark he could probably convince Steele that he was at the pub all day.

Did he have a plan? Nope, but Jude figured that any plan he tried to make for a trip into creepy woods would probably fly out the window within the first five minutes anyway.

For the most part, all was peaceful. The chirpings of unseen birds and the occasional creaking tree branch were the only indications that Jude wasn't the only living thing in the forest, but only a few minutes into his walk he heard a sound so strikingly humanlike that it made him pause.

"Hello?"

Just stood stock still and tilted his head to the side, straining his ears.

It sounded like...moaning? Crying? It was soft, but it was still there. So he kept walking, following the sound. It stopped and started back again at odd intervals, but got louder as he kept walking. Jude gulped. Didn't ghosts usually haunt creepy woods? What if it was the spirit of a kid who wandered in and got lost and died? Shaking his head, he pressed onward. Show no fear. Fear is the enemy of new discoveries. After a little while longer of following the distressed cries, Jude stopped behind a large tree that was blocking his view, certain that his 'ghost' was just on the other side.

"Alright, a new discovery...please don't be a vengeful spirit or somethi- HOLY SHIT!"

That wasn't a ghost. Now he wished it was a ghost.

It was a boy, sitting bound in a cage that may have been made for a dog but looked uncomfortably human-sized in this situation. His light hair was braided back, allowing Jude to see the fear that shone in his blue eyes as he twisted around in his bonds and mumbled from behind his gag.

"Oh shit...oh sweet Mary Jesus fuck!" Jude yelled, and the boy flinched, whimpering.

"Nonono it's okay! It's okay...let me just- I'm gonna get you out." Jude whispered, holding his hands up in a way he hoped didn't look threatening as he approached the cage.

"Mrrrghh..."

The boy in the cage didn't look so convinced, shuffling toward the opposite side of the cage as he eyed Jude warily.

As he stood in front of the cage, Jude noticed more about the boy. He was...ethereal looking. Unlike Jude's skin that was blotchy when flushed and peppered with freckles, the face staring back at him was completely clear and pale. Had he not been trapped in the cage, Jude probably would have thought he was a wandering spirit.

"Hrmm, grmmph!" he was still mumbling, eyebrows furrowed.

Jude felt like he was about to throw up. Surely this young man was a human trafficking victim, though he had no idea where the kidnapper was and he didn't want to stick around long enough to find out.

"I'm sorry I...I don't know any Finnish." Jude apologized, fingers shaking as he unlatched the small door on the cage's side, "So uh...I come in peace? Please just, believe me, I'm not gonna hurt you and I hope I sound soothing probably not though I'm rambling."

The metal was heavy and creaked loudly as he pried the door open. Was this thing made of solid iron?

"Come on, lemme see your hands." Jude coaxed, reaching inside. The pale young man looked at Jude with an unreadable expression before finally shifting around and presenting his bound wrists, shackled together by more metal. Jude actually tasted bile in the back of his throat at the sight of the other's skin, rubbed raw and red underneath the manacles.

"Dammit! Hold on, lemme see if I have something." Jude shoved his hands into his pockets. Gum wrappers, a pen, pieces of petrified candy...and a safety pin!

"Alright, lemme see if this works."

Very, VERY carefully, Jude unlatched the pin and began poking around the lock on the other's restraints.

He just hoped he could get them unlatched before whoever was responsible for this came back.