The Prisoner

9

he scrambled in through the narrow opening, sucking in his stomach to fit, and shifted until he

thought he was completely covered by blankets.

It was cramped. He could barely breathe and maneuvered just so until he found a

position that allowed better airflow from a quarter-sized gap in the blankets.

It ’ s only hide and seek, he told himself, quickly falling asleep, lulled by the gentle rocking

of the ship. Kai didn ’ t notice when the crew had returned and conducted a final inventory check,

neither when his crate was jostled, nor when the orders were given to start their departure, their

shouts muffled by the time they reached his cozy crate.