'HELP M-' I was cut off as smoke entered my mouth, choking me, and making my eyes water.
Well, it wasn't really smoke, as such; it was Zippleback gas.
But, in my current state, I couldn't really care less about what it was. All I knew was that it was choking me, and I had to get out of here.
Or I would be a Viking barbecue.
I waved the smoke- Zippleback gas away from me as much as I could, and attempted to scream for help again.
"HICCUP!' somebody screamed.
I wondered deliriously if I had shouted my own name. But I couldn't have. Why would I do that? I didn't really care anymore.
'HICCUP!' the person screamed again. Weirdly, it sounded like Astrid's voice.
No. The Zippleback gas must have been entering my head, and making me hear voices that were not there.
The third time the voice screamed, I realised that I couldn't be imagining it. The voice was real.
'ASTRID!' I screamed, taking in a big breath of air beforehand.
'HICCUP! Where are you?!'
'I'm over by Skullcrusher!'
'Okay. Hiccup, go over to him, and try to free him. He'll guide you through the fire to find me.'
'Got it...' I spluttered.
'SKULLCRUSHER!' I called.
I was answered by a growl.
I managed to navigate over to him, and placed a hand on his snout. He growled again.
'Hey, hey, it's okay. It's me, big guy. Not Drago.'
He seemed satisfied with this, and lunged towards me, like an excitable puppy. His chain couldn't take the strain, and it snapped.
'There. Now how about we free your master next?'
Skullcrusher whimpered slightly.
'Would you mind bashing the cage with your horn, big guy?' I asked him politely, mockingly.
Skullcrusher clearly indicated that he didn't like to be made fun of, but he did what I asked.
'You should learn a lesson about this, Drago.' I called up to him, wherever he was.
'Ask dragons to do things, instead of ordering them to.'
He replied with a cold laugh.
I walked into the cage, which now had a hole in it. At the sound of my approach, Eret turned around. I gasped.
'Eret...Why is there blood traced on your scar? That's not...'
"The Mark of Traitors? Yes, Hiccup, it is.'
'No...how could he do that to you...?'
Eret replied with a hollow laugh.
'He's Drago. He's been doing things to me like that all through my...career. But it didn't hurt as badly this time.'
He smiled halfheartedly.
'Think of the positives, Hiccup. You had to do that with your leg. So I guess I'll have to do it with my scar. All that time I was working for him, for five years, I had to remember that there would be a day when I wouldn't have to suffer anymore. And, finally, that day came. I know I didn't like you much in the beginning, Hiccup. But I'm hoping you can forgive me for that. Working for him made me arrogant, and a horrible person. But you've brought out the best in me, Hiccup. And I will never, ever forget what you've done for me.'
He started choking up as he got to the end of his speech.
I started choking up too.
'Now, let's get out of here before we're fried.'
'Good, plan, Eret.'
'I know. That's why I said it. You're not the only one who makes good plans around here, Hiccup.' Eret joked.
'I guess not. Now, let's free the others.'