There's a bit of violence in this chapter as a heads up. Enjoy the angst and heaviness!

The first thing I became fully aware of was a dull buzz permeating the room. It sounded like the hum of fluorescent lights, but this was Rieze Maxia. Did those even exist here?

I groaned, my head throbbing from the cold metal my forehead was currently pressed against. My body felt heavy, like each vein had been filled with sand. I lay there for a while, sprawled across an unfamiliar floor, and tried to wrap my brain around what had happened to lead me here. Wherever that was. What had I been doing?

Slowly, the world shifted back into focus. My eyes trailed up the wall, focusing on the faint glow of a lumen lamp. The wall was copper-coloured, decorated by a faded pattern that I could hardly make out in my current state. I caught sight of an industrial sink and toilet nestled into the corner behind a small partition. I frowned.

"You're awake."

My heart erupted in a frenzy in my chest. I bolted upwards, the room spinning as I did. I clutched my forehead and sucked air through my teeth. When I felt confident that I wasn't going to vomit from the vertigo, I turned slowly. To my horror, I was met with a wall of iron bars.

Standing on the other side was Alvin, his face unreadable.

"Alvin." Instantly, I was overcome by tears. I did my best to sniff them back. My voice was barely above a whisper. "Where am I?"

He didn't answer. I could see his jaw working, but his expression was otherwise neutral.

It was then that I noticed the weight on my ankle, foreign and clunky. My eyes fell on the thick metal cuff and I let out an anguished whimper.

"No. No, no, no, no, no. Alvin..."

"I get how this looks-"

"Tell me you didn't. Please, tell me you didn't."

"I know you won't believe me, but I'm doing this to help you." His voice was infuriatingly casual, but I didn't buy it for a second. There was none of the usual mirth to it. It was all forced. "Don't take it personally, alright?"

"I don't understand. I thought..." I shook my head, rattling a few tears loose. I clawed at the cuff, digging my nails into the seams of the metal. The dull blue light pulsed mockingly at me.

"It's not going to work," he said, taking a step forward. "You're going to blow yourself up if you keep that up."

I sniffed, the panic starting to blur my vision. Every horrible fear I'd been pushing back had finally come true, and I was right back in this hellhole where I'd started. My breath hitched, my chest constricted -

"Maggie-"

"Shut up!" I snapped, my voice cracking. A single, choked sob forced its way out of my chest. "Just stop it. I was right. You are with them. All along, I...I trusted you. I thought we understood each other, and...and…"

"C'mon…" Ducking his head, his fingers absently wrapped around one of the bars. He gave a dry chuckle. "It's not like that. It's complicated."

If the situation were any less dire I would have rolled my eyes. Of course he would say that. It was a classic line to deflect responsibility for one's own shitty actions - textbook Alvin.

"Bullshit."

His eyes flashed. "You don't have to believe me-"

"Of course I don't believe you." Hysteria was quickly taking control of my brain, words spilling out of my mouth faster than I could even process them. "This whole time you...you let me laugh and joke and think that we were actually friends, but it was just this...this big, stupid lie."

My voice broke on that final word. I snapped my lips shut, turning my head. I refused to fall to pieces in front of him. I wouldn't give him the satisfaction. I could feel his eyes on me, and it made my face burn with humiliation.

"All along," I whispered. It felt like my heart would crack in two. "It was you all along." The final realization swelled to the surface, burning my eyes and stabbing at my throat. "You were the man with Blair that day? You're the one who brought me here?"

When he didn't answer, I cautioned a look towards him. More than ever, I wanted to rip that stupid mask off his face. Just once I wanted to see him react to something like a human being. But as usual, there was nothing.

He just looked bored of it all.

To make matters worse, the door slid open and a familiar figure walked through, the warm light from the lumen lamp glinting off his glasses. His lips pulled into a sinister smile.

"Well, here we are. My little mouse has returned home where she belongs."

It was as if the floor opened up beneath me. I almost wished it had - wished I could be swallowed by a gaping void so that I wouldn't have to do this. Wouldn't have to face the heartbreak and danger my own stupidity had bought me. I pushed myself further from the cell door, pressing my back to the wall and hugging my knees close to my chest. My heart pounded so hard I thought it would kill me.

"Ah, a skittish thing," said Elias. He moved to stand beside Alvin and gave him an amused look. "I thought you said she'd grown some courage on that journey of yours. She looks like the same dainty mouse I once held in my grasp."

My eyes burned. I felt like I was going to be sick. Had Alvin been corresponding with Elias this whole time? I thought of all those carrier pigeons, the letters, the wandering off on his own...I really was an idiot.

Alvin didn't answer him. His eyes flicked briefly to me before returning to Elias. As usual, his expression was unreadable.

"I did what you asked. How long do you plan to keep her here?"

"That's hardly your concern," said Elias. "This one is a valuable test subject and I haven't even begun to scrape the surface of her durability. There is much work to be done. I feel it in my bones - she will be the key to all my hard work."

His words sent a shudder ripping through me. Durability?

"That wasn't the deal." Alvin's tone dipped harshly for a split second before he reined it back in."You told me if I brought her back you would extract your data and send her home."

Elias kissed his teeth. "Please. Don't tell me you actually believed that. I thought that exchange more of a good-natured joke than an actual bargain. Why would I go to the trouble of procuring a test subject only to throw her away? And besides…" He moved to stand directly in front of the cell, wrapping his fingers around a bar. His gaze felt chilling and hot all at the same time. "That wretched boy stole the spyrix from me. For all I know, he destroyed it. This girl could be my last chance. I'm not about to waste that." Elias sighed, turning to give Alvin a derisive smile. "Of course, you were perfectly aware of all of this, so I'm not sure what to take from your sudden change of conscience. Is Lady Maxwell's noble nature rubbing off on you?"

Alvin's hand twitched, like he wanted to reach for his gun but thought better of it. It looked like his words were lodged in his throat, like he was choking down whatever he wanted to say.

"Don't forget yourself, Alfred." Elias's voice was low, dripping with something thick and dark - like honey mixed with tar. "I refuse to fail Lord Gilland again. I would imagine it in your best interest to keep him happy as well."

Alfred? I watched the exchange, head swimming. Nothing about the scene unfolding made any sense. Alvin was the one who had brought me here, and now he was arguing for my freedom? It had to be a sick game he was playing, dangling hope in front of my face to make me think he still cared.

I hated that it was working.

Either way, the mention of Gilland was a clear trigger. Alvin shrunk back, his jaw locking into place. It was a look, vaguely, of defeat. He clenched his fists, the only remaining indicator of his previous anger.

"Of course. My apologies."

Elias grinned. "Perfect. Now then, be a good little boy and make your report. There's plenty of work to be done. And remember-" He paused, reaching out and lightly tapping Alvin's cheek. "You don't get 'deals'. You get jobs, and you do them. No questions. Don't forget yourself."

Alvin had gone as rigid as a statue. There were a couple of seconds where he remained quiet and still. Eventually his eyes slid across the room to land on me. The sight of him blurred. Horrified, I realized I was crying. He swallowed, turning and making a brisk pace to the door.

"Stop!" I cried out, scrambling forward and latching onto the bars. I didn't care about being close to Elias. If I didn't get through to Alvin now, my chance would be lost forever. I had to try. "Please, don't go. You don't have to do this."

"Oh, it's already been done," said Elias. He stepped out of my line of sight to let the scene play on. "I'm afraid he doesn't have much of a choice in that fact."

"That's not true…" My voice shuddered and cracked. I kept my eyes locked on Alvin's back, gripping the bars so tightly that my knuckles ached. "You can still fix this. Get me out of here and I'll forget everything. W-We can go back to the way things were. Please, Alvin…" I sniffled, fighting to keep my tone even. In the end it failed and my last words came out in a feeble rasp. "We're friends. It wasn't all a lie, right?"

I couldn't see his face. I would never know if my words struck a chord with him because he immediately left the room, leaving a gaping void in the space he'd stood. The moment the door clicked shut I fell back. Sobs lodged themselves into my throat.

"Oh…" Elias clicked his tongue in a mockery at pity. "Don't bother spilling tears over him, little mouse. That one's been rotten since birth."

I turned away from him, clenching my jaw. It felt like the walls were closing in on me, the space around me shrinking and collapsing. My heart was a frantic bird, slamming into the walls of my chest in a desperate effort to escape.

"Keegan will save me," I said, grinding my teeth together.

"Will he? Now that I would like to see." The dim light glinted off Elias's teeth as he sneered at me. He stretched his fingers out, examining the tips of his nails. "Tell me, will that be after he returns from his little journey with the Lord of Spirits?"

"What?" I fell still, breath hitching in my throat. "How do you even know about that?"

"Thanks to our dear friend Alfred - oh, sorry, I suppose you know him as Alvin - I know everything. Do you think it was a coincidence that he waited until you were alone - vulnerable - to make his move?" He turned, moving to hover in front of the cell doors again. I shrunk back. "Since leaving this fine facility, you haven't drawn a breath without me knowing, my mouse. Your precious 'friend' made sure of that."

"That's…" My voice was nothing more than a puff of hot air. I couldn't hold it back anymore - thick tears streamed from my eyes, blurring my vision.

That can't be true, my small, scared inner voice whimpered. Alvin wouldn't do that. There has to be some mistake.

But as the seconds flew by, more and more memories started floating mockingly to the surface. I thought of that first day in Fennmont, how harmless our first meeting had seemed. And then again, when he rescued me from that guard. Had he seriously been watching me that whole time?

He'd let Blair go in Nia Khera because he knew her. He'd opened up to me about Elympios, pried my secret out of me with such sympathy and skill, all so I would trust him. So I would rely on him. I squeezed my eyes shut. How many moments had been part of his carefully orchestrated ploy? Was any of it real?

Had it all just been a lie?

"Keegan will save me," I said again, but there was no conviction behind it. I wasn't trying to convince Elias. I was trying to convince myself.

"He won't," Elias said coldly. "Your friends made sure of that."

"What? What do you mean?"

"After your group broke in to rescue Lady Sharil and the Lord of Spirits, the commanders here decided that they needed to enact extra...precautions." He clasped his hands behind his back. "Naturally, I encouraged them. At either major entrance of the fortress there are powerful golems stationed - huge, brutish, artificial beasts. Not even your 'brother' could hope to take down colossi like those."

I didn't answer. I couldn't even begin to wrap my head around what he was saying. There was always a chance. There had to be hope. I'd seen the odds overcome time and time again since arriving in this world. Nothing was hopeless. Nothing.

"I know what you're thinking," said Elias. "And I would save your brain the effort. This fortress has been run through with a fine tooth comb. Any potential dissenters have been...dealt with. All potential routes of escape have been eliminated. We are not about to allow this facility to be infiltrated a third time. No one is getting in here without our say. No one is coming to save you."

Nothing is hopeless. Nothing is hopeless. Nothing is hopeless. Nothing is-

"It's hopeless," said Elias. Sick glee seeped from every pore on his face. "But don't look so sad - in time, you might come to like it here. We're doing valuable work in this laboratory. You could be the breakthrough I've been waiting for - if that ends up being the case, you'll have no reason to despair anymore. You'll be celebrated."

"I don't want that." A fresh, desperate surge of energy swept through my body and, for the first time since waking, I jumped to my feet. The room spun as I did it but I fought through the nausea to give him a defiant look. "Please, just let me go. What you're trying to do isn't possible."

"You don't know what you're talking about." His tone was perfectly calm. "Success has been within my grasp countless times."

"You mean Blair?"

Elias stilled, giving me a calculating look.

"Yes," he said, "like Blair. Her case is not without its...shortcomings, but overall, the serum succeeded in what I set out to accomplish. A beautiful mana lobe, capable of communing with the spirits."

"She's crazy. That's not a success."

"It's a foundation. If I focus more on reagents that will promote mental stability and seamless growth…" He reached out his hand like he meant to stroke my face. I jerked back, eyes burning. "Ah, yes. I can see it now. You will be the key to everything."

"You're nuts," I hissed. "This isn't going to work, you...you evil-"

"Evil…" He carefully searched my face, adjusting his glasses before he spoke again. "Tell me, in all your time with the Lord of Spirits, did she ever fully explain her mission to you? Did she tell you what the Lance of Kresnik does?"

"She...she said it was a weapon," I said softly. I thought back to what Jude had told me on the ship to Auj Oule. "A spyrix. Isn't it?"

"Precisely. And do you know what a spyrix does? What it needs to function?" He didn't wait for me to answer before continuing. "It kills spirits. Precious life forms that give energy to the world. Elympios has no choice but to use these tools. We haven't the means to channel spirits ourselves. What sort of world would you prefer? One where spirits and humans can live in harmony? Or one where both humans and spirits alike slowly wane and perish? If I succeed…" And then I shuddered, because the look on his face was so...gentle. Hopeful. "A better world awaits. For everyone. I'm sure Lord Maxwell would approve of my vision."

It was the first time I'd actually heard him make sense. I couldn't find the words to argue with him. His ideals weren't wrong, necessarily. In the very center of this black mass of torture he'd created, I could see the tiny spark of a good intention. An idealist who wanted to save his world.

"She wouldn't," I said finally. "Not if it meant torturing innocent people to get there."

"The torture ends with you," he said, and then that deranged glint was back in his eyes. "Together, we will usher forth a new age. One day, you will understand. One day, you'll thank me."

The door slid open. A short man with black hair and thin glasses entered the room, stuttering to a halt when he saw me in the cell. He swallowed, fingers tightly clutching the clipboard in his hands. It took me a moment, but I recognized him. Boris, I recalled.

"Dr. Elias," he said nervously. "I-I see the subject has returned."

My skin still crawled at that word. Subject. Like I wasn't human.

"Boris." Elias gave a faint hum. "Yes. Why don't we head to the lab and make preparations for the first test batch? We have plenty of lost time to make up for." He turned, offering me a final, shrewd look. "Don't get too comfortable. We'll be back for you as soon as we're ready."

Then the two of them were gone. The room was silent, save for the hum of the lights. My lungs felt tight, like something huge and evil had crawled onto my chest and was trying to suffocate me. I took a step back, reaching blindly for the wall behind me. Now that everyone had left the room, they'd taken my adrenaline with them and I collapsed, hitting the ground with a harsh thud.

As I stared at the ceiling, I finally let go. An agonized wail built in my throat, escaping as a full-blown scream that dissolved into sobs. Despair pressed down on me like an anvil.

I was so stupid. A million chaotic thoughts swarmed through my head, and I tried combing through them all, searching desperately for a sign, a clue that I'd missed. Had Alvin really fooled me that easily? Was there some kind of indicator that he'd been lying? Had I just been too busy tripping over his charming smile and embarrassing comments to see what kind of person he really was?

It would have been easier if that were true. The truth was, he put on a damn good show. Even the moments when my faith in him wavered - Blair, Cline, the girl at the Seafalls - he always managed to reel me back in.

God...I really am stupid. I buried my face in my hands, trying and failing to muffle my sobs. Stupid, stupid, stupid.

He really was with Exodus. He'd put on such a convincing act of playing dumb when I'd initially flung that accusation at him. He'd let me fall to pieces in front of him, had offered such blank curiosity about my home and my struggles. All along, he'd already known everything. He had me making confessions and tripping over my words just for his own sick amusement. Had we shared a single genuine moment?

Even now, when I finally saw him for who he really was, he was still putting on an act. Pretending to be angry with Elias for lying - if he was even pretending. What was the point of it all if he'd always intended on betraying me? Just to toy with me some more? To give me false hope?

All of these thoughts inevitably spilled over to Jude and the others. Had they simply been pulled into our mess? Alvin always seemed so interested in what Milla was doing. Was it because he was planning on betraying her too? I imagined how lucky he no doubt felt when he realized we'd become roped in with each other. He'd made me feel like running after Jude and Milla to Hamil was my idea, when all along it had probably fit perfectly into his scheme.

My skull ached. My thoughts were being pulled in a thousand directions. I was trapped here. I would never see Jude or Milla or Keegan again. Despite how hard I'd worked and how brave I'd had to become to get back to Sharilton, none of it mattered. I was going to die in this fucking lab. That realization sent fresh panic rattling in my chest.

"I don't wanna die," I whispered to the empty room. Saying the words outside somehow made them feel even more real. I cried, harder than it felt like I'd ever cried in my life. What was I supposed to do now? Every small bit of confidence I'd gained on the journey was crashing down around me. I wasn't some brave warrior who'd carved out her place in the world.

I was a stupid, gullible girl who was going to die without ever seeing her mother again.

I wasn't sure how long I lay crying on the floor. It might have been only minutes, but it felt like hours. I cried until my face felt raw and puffy, until no more tears came out. Then I silently stared at the ceiling, listening to the imaginary ticking of imaginary hands on an imaginary clock.

Once my tears were drained, there was a lot more room for clarity. I began taking a mental stock, starting from my toes and moving up all the way to the top of my scalp. I hadn't brought my sword out into town with me, but that didn't really matter either way. No way they'd let it in the cell with me. I didn't have my bag - who knew where Alvin had chucked it. Not that it mattered either. The only thing of importance that had been in it was the gald for the deliveries.

I breathed a heavy, shaking sigh. Okay. What did I have? There was a light pulse from my finger, a tiny spark of energy that surged through my whole body before settling back into dormancy.

My lilium orb. Ace.

My excitement over this realization was short-lived, reality soon sinking in. Right. It didn't matter if I had my lilium orb with me because I had no means of using it. No weapon, no partner to link with - all I had to offer was my own two hands, and although Jude had taught me a punch here or there, that definitely wasn't going to be enough. Even though whatever crap Alvin had put in my system was starting to wear off, there was still no way I was strong enough to punch my way out of a military fortress.

Which put me back to square one.

A frustrated screech built in my throat. I choked it back. That didn't mean it was hopeless. Elias probably wasn't that strong, himself. It was the soldiers I had to worry about. If I could get the jump on him then I could...sneak through the fortress, secure a weapon…

I shook my head. That wasn't a plan. That was a death wish. Especially with those golems Elias mentioned, if he'd been telling the truth. Definitely outside of my challenge range. And besides…

My eyes fell on the shackle around my ankle. The sight of the blood-stained carriage filled my vision and I had to swallow back another frustrated sob. There was no way I was getting out of here without blowing my legs off. What was I going to do? Drag my bleeding body across the Talys Highroad? No. I didn't have that kind of resolve.

I wasn't Milla.

The sound of the door opening filled me with immediate dread. I bolted upwards, shuddering from another wave of nausea. Boris entered the room with a single guard at his side. He motioned to the guard, who began unlocking the cell.

"Get away from me," I hissed, backing myself against the wall.

"It will be easier for both of us if you come quietly," said Boris. "I will try to ensure this process is as painless as possible, but any struggle will only make that harder."

The guard had made his way into the cell at this point, his gloved hand hovering over his sword. My fingers twitched, energy sparking at my knuckle and beginning to trickle up my arm. One guard. Could I take one guard? Steal his sword?

"Out," the guard barked, voice muffled through his helmet. I heard the slight scrape of his blade against his sheath and paled.

Nope. Definitely couldn't punch through a suit of armor.

I shook out my fingers and the energy from my lilium orb dissipated. Shrinking in on myself as much as I possibly could, I inched past the guard and out of the cell.

"Hands behind your back," he ordered.

I complied, lacing my shaking fingers tightly together. Walking felt impossible but I pushed my jelly legs forward, fearful of what would happen if I didn't. Boris led the way out of the room, which opened up into a tall, curving hallway. It was clear that we were at the bottom of several levels, as I could barely make out the ceiling above us. There weren't many people on this level, but I could see figures moving above us on the grated metal walkways.

Briefly, I considered crying out. There was a small, hopeful part of me that wondered if this was all just paranoia. Maybe Nachtigal really didn't know people were being held prisoner here. Maybe it was all Exodus. If I just screamed loud enough, if I put my terror on full display-

Any scream that might have come died in my throat when I caught sight of what lay up ahead. Stretching from floor to ceiling was a series of shining orange glyphs, fading in and out of sight like the thorax of a firefly.

The hex zone. The thing that took Milla's legs.

The shackle around my ankle felt heavier.

"This way." The guard kicked my heel, ushering me forward.

I tried my hardest to push the image of the hex zone from my mind as we continued on. We didn't move very far - maybe two or three doors down - before Boris led us into another room. At first glance, it looked much like the previous room. The same dingy walls, the same dim lumen lamps on the walls. Instead of a cell, there was a desk and cabinet against one wall, with all sorts of papers and medical supplies lining the shelves. In the middle of the room was a medical cot, buckles dangling off the sides.

I dug my heels into the floor. The familiarity of it all slapped me in the face. I'd been here before.

The guard roughly shoved me forward. I only stumbled for a moment before I whirled around, hands fumbling at the guard's steel-coated arms.

"Step back."

"Please, I can't be back here," I pleaded.

"Remove your hands immediately-"

"Please, I-I'll do whatever you want, just don't put me back on that-"

The guard wrenched his arm free, striking me across the face. I staggered back from the sheer force, cupping my cheek in shock. It took several seconds before the stinging began, hot and pulsing just beneath my eye.

"You're dismissed," said Boris, nervously clearing his throat. The guard mimicked the action, and I could vaguely feel his eyes linger on me through his helmet before he turned and hurried from the room.

I could only stare at his feet as he left. I was frozen in place, eyes welling up with warm tears. I didn't move, even when the door opened and a polished black pair of loafers stepped into the room.

"I heard a commotion coming down the hall," said Elias, coming to stand in front of me. His slender fingers curled beneath my chin, tilting my face up so he could examine it. "My, which one of our brutish guards left this bruise on our little mouse?"

"Paquet," said Boris. "He's typically on ground level. I think she might have spooked him."

"Hm." Elias held my gaze a few more seconds, lips pulling into a frown. "Well, he should be informed that we treat our guests with a little more respect than that. Don't worry" - and then he gently patted my cheek - "I will deal with him personally."

I swallowed, fighting the urge to spit in his eye. The ache in my cheek grew with each passing second.

Something moved at my side. Before I could process what it was, I felt the dull prick of a syringe enter the crook of my elbow. Elias's fingers curled into a grip around my face, holding me in place. I gasped sharply and tried to wrench out of his grasp but whatever Boris had injected into my bloodstream was quickly causing my muscles to turn to mush. My knees buckled.

"Careful," said Boris. His arms looped beneath my arms to keep me from dropping to the floor. I awkwardly swung my fists but it felt like punching through water. There was no way to stop him from dragging me across the floor and draping my limp body across the cot.

"Don't forget the restraints," said Elias. He'd moved across the room to a workbench filled with various coloured vials and chemistry tools. I watched him as Boris began buckling the restraints around my wrists and ankles. Every remaining bit of energy I had went into the glare I fixed him with.

When Elias turned, he met my glare with an amused smile.

"Ooh, what a scary expression," he said, lightly clicking his tongue. He held up the syringe. With dull horror, I recognized the mauve liquid sloshing around inside. As he approached me, a scream lodged itself into my throat, unable to be released. "Are we ready, Boris?"

"Sir." Boris had found his clipboard, as well as a strange thin device that looked like a thermometer.

Elias placed two fingers on my cheek and turned my face onto its side, exposing my neck. I squeezed my eyes shut, feeling the hot rush of tears spill down my cheeks. I remembered the pain from last time. It was unlike anything I had ever felt, like acid spreading through my entire body and splitting open my skull.

This time, when I felt the prick of the needle, there was nothing at first. I felt an uneasy pressure in my neck that made my throat tight. Only when Elias pulled away from me did I erupt into a weak cough, lungs burning.

Then the headache started. At first it was a faint ache just behind my brow bone, much like a tension headache. It quickly exploded into pure agony. The lights in the room felt infinitely brighter and I had to keep my eyes squeezed shut. I was too weak to even scream. I took shallow breaths, begging for it to pass.

"Pain levels appear to be in range with the last dose," said Boris. He'd rested the device against my temple. I heard the frantic scribble of his pen against the clipboard. "Mana levels have taken a jump, though that is likely due to the presence of the serum. Cerebral activity is...fluctuating. Hm."

"Hm?" Elias had tossed the empty syringe onto the nearby medical tray. "What?"

"This value. We haven't seen that before, have we?"

"Not...quite…" I heard Elias rip the clipboard from Boris's hands. "The closest I've seen it was…"

"Oh," said Boris in surprise. "Yes, you're right. So you think-"

"I think we've finally acquired a viable subject. It will take some time to smooth out the kinks - we must obviously tweak the formula to properly mesh with her biological makeup - but…"

Their words were beginning to melt into nonsense. I didn't want to hear any of it. I didn't care how viable I was. The pain made it hard to focus on anything else. Crippling nausea was the only other thing powerful enough to break through. I refused to open my eyes, trying my hardest to summon images of my soft bed at home, the small dark shadow of my dog, a winding, sleepy river - and then blue glittering roofs, lazy windmills, the soft glow of a lumen lamp…

"...wait until Gilland...this…"

I didn't remember passing out. I was only aware I was no longer on the cold metal of the table when I felt the equally unpleasant cold metal of the cell floor against my back. A dry, sour taste coated my tongue.

It took several moments trying to remember how to move my limbs before I recognized the unsettling feeling of being watched. I kept my back to the cell door, praying that whoever was in the room with me would just give up and leave. Elias, Boris - it didn't matter anymore. All I wanted to do was sleep.

But whoever it was, they didn't relent. Eventually I heard a soft chuckle that once would have curdled every drop of blood in my body. Now, all it served to do was spark a bit of curiosity. I kept still.

"I know you are awake. I sensed the shift in your breathing."

I was too weak to even groan. I spent what felt like minutes turning my aching body on its other side so that I could face my tormentor.

Blair watched the spectacle, red lips pulled into a smirk.

"Aw, poor thing. Is this what all your fighting has brought you? Was it worth it?"

"Shut...shut..."

She slowly approached the cell, reaching out to trace her finger against the bar. The smirk melted into a frown. She looked more stoic than I'd ever seen her - no serene gaze or vicious snarl.

"I suppose the cat is out of the bag now. Your precious friend, a traitor - doesn't that sting?"

If I wasn't so drained, I might have started crying. Instead, all her words brought me was a hollow ache, thudding against the walls of my chest. She watched me, her mocking demeanour gone. Was she...sad?

"You should have just come with me at Nia Khera," she went on. "You wouldn't be feeling this betrayal right now. You could have remained...oblivious."

"N-Not true."

"Hm." Blair made a light popping sound with her lips. "You already hate me, don't you?"

"Whose fault is that?" My voice shook as I spoke, but Blair went on like she hadn't heard me.

"But that handsome mercenary…" She shook her head, letting out a tiny giggle. "He had you fooled, didn't he? I almost couldn't believe my eyes when I saw the two of you together. Tell me, what truly would have been worse? Letting yourself be captured by an enemy like me, or your so-called 'friend'?"

I squeezed my eyes shut, trying to block her out. Each word was like a fresh dagger to my already scarred skin. I couldn't run, had no means of escape from this cramped, suffocating cell. The realization blooming in my mind was already painfully obvious at this point, but it still felt locked behind my clenched teeth. If I didn't speak it, it wouldn't have legs. Speaking made it real.

"Was it really him?" I asked quietly, still refusing to open my eyes. "That day in the graveyard, when you captured me? Did he…?"

"It was our first and only mission together," said Blair. I couldn't read her tone. When I opened my eyes, I found her expression to be thoughtful. "He certainly is...charming, I must say. I can see how you fell for his tricks, little mouse. It amazes me how easily lying comes to that man. To keep you fooled, for so long…"

"Enough." I'd tried to fill my words with as much venom as possible, but they fell flat.

"I knew many men like him," she went on. "Back in our world. And even still, when I stumbled into him at the park that day, I couldn't help it. I was falling over his sweet words. And then…" She smiled ruefully. "Well, I suppose you know the rest, don't you? Just another foolish girl, swayed by another pretty liar. I'm sure in each other's lives, he and I were one in a million, hm? You're proof enough of that."

My sudden revulsion sent enough energy bursting through my body that I bolted upwards, the room spinning as I did. I clutched my head, fighting the urge to vomit. The rest of her words were drowned out by the sudden pounding in my ears.

"You're saying Alvin brought you here?"

"Hm? But of course." Blair tucked a hand under her chin, studying me blankly. "Exodus uses that man for all manner of shady doings. Retrieval of test subjects from Earth is one of many. As we both know, he's a skilled manipulator."

"N-No…" My breathing quickened and hitched in my throat. There was no way what she was saying was true. If that were true, then…

"You don't believe me?"

"It's not possible," I weakly protested. "Keegan...Keegan would have recognized him. He would have told me-"

"Keegan." Her features hardened, colder than snow. "That fool was a boy when he was brought here, and Alfred along with him. If he did happen to catch a glimpse of him when he was captured, it would be the face of a teenager he'd be recalling. Not the...man, he is now." There was that serene smile again. It was as though someone was controlling her emotions with a switch, a puppeteer pulling the strings. Any shred of humanity that managed to escape, it was always quite quickly snuffed out. "Not to mention the sheer volume of drugs in his system at the time."

"Have I seen you around town? You look familiar."

"I make it to these parts every now and then," Alvin said with a shrug. "I've definitely darkened the doorway of your famous shop more than once. Plus, who could forget these stunning looks of mine?" He flashed a grin, but it felt completely soulless. I frowned, watching the scene with a growing unease that I was somehow missing something. I felt prompted to stand between them for some reason, and I shifted my stance in an effort to fill the space.

"Must be it," said Keegan. His lips were pulled together, like Alvin was some sort of puzzle he was trying to solve. I wanted to tell him not to bother.

At the memory, the sight of Blair blurred. I blinked back tears, dropping my gaze to my trembling hands. So it wasn't just me. Blair, Keegan - every person Elias had buried his grimy claws into, Alvin had been right there like some kind of messed up courier. I couldn't decide what hurt worse - believing that Alvin had singled me out for kicks, or knowing that I was just another casualty in his line of work.

"Aw, what's wrong? Did you think you were special?"

"Shut up," I hissed. My fingers curled into fists, the edges of my lilium orb digging into my palm. "I'm sick of listening to you ramble on and on. This...this isn't you."

"You know nothing about me-"

"I know what Keegan told me." Finally, I lifted my chin to give her a defiant look. The dullness cloaking my senses began to burn and smolder, rage lighting it aflame. "He told me you were this bright, radiant person and looking at you now I cannot begin to imagine why."

Her eyes flashed. "I would suggest-"

"You're brainwashed, Blair. Elias fucked you up so badly that you're hurting the people you love. Keegan is going to get us home if you just-"

"Enough!" She slammed her hand against the cell door. The loud noise caused me to flinch, my confidence shattering in an instant. I remembered myself, remembered where I was. Blair gripped the bars and leaned forward until her face was pressed against the metal, until it felt like her body would seep through the solid matter and devour me. "You are a foolish girl if you believe for a second that such a weak idiot has any hope of saving you. The only spirit fossil powerful enough to operate the spyrix has been safely hidden in Fennmont. There isn't a single chance-"

"Wait." I'd shrank back at her outburst, but now desperation pushed me forward. There was no way I was strong enough to stand, but I leaned forward on my knees regardless. "You said it's in Fennmont?"

"I…" She swallowed, her eyes widening. Her tongue darted out to wet her lips as she visibly fought to smooth out her expression. "You would do well to forget I said that."

"No. Don't you understand? You've had the power to go home this entire time and you refuse to use it. How could you still be on his side? How could you do this to Keegan after everything-"

"Don't," she said vehemently, "finish that sentence. It doesn't matter if you know where the spirit fossil is. You are never getting out of here. I would give up hope before you end up dying of exhaustion. Save your strength for what matters - staying alive."

Before I could say anything else she turned and stormed from the room. As the door slammed shut behind her I watched the space where she'd stood, chest aching. I knew better by now than to cling to hope, but all the same hope bloomed to life, its petals unfurling in my throat.

The lab in Fennmont. My chance to go home. All of it was so clearly laid before me but still so frustratingly out of reach. I brushed my fingers against my lilium orb, feeling, for the first time in days, determination swell up inside of me.

I was going to get out of here. I had to.

It didn't take long for the days to start the blend together. That sort of concept had always eluded me. With sunlight and digital clocks, how could a person ever lose track of their place in time? But there were no windows in this prison of lights were kept dim, my meals sporadic. I was constantly hungry and under the influence of whatever drug they gave me to keep me docile. I passed the time by drifting in and out of restless sleep.

I always wondered how a person could lose track of time. Now, I understood.

The only constant was my daily trip to Elias's lab, and I passed out immediately afterwards every time. It was very likely that this took place at the same time everyday, but I was so out of it that I had no way of knowing for sure. He very well could have been running experiments multiple times a day, but in my gut I felt that it was only once. If that was correct…

"Six days," I muttered aloud, glazed eyes fixed on the ceiling.

It had been roughly six days since I'd arrived at the lab. That didn't sound right, sounded like such an insignificant amount of time. Had I really only been living through this hell for six days? It felt much longer.

My mind wandered to Driselle and the others. Had they noticed I was missing by now? That realization had to have come quickly. I'd told Orla I'd be home that night. She was supposed to leave the porchlight on for me. How long did it take for her to realize I hadn't just decided to go home with my "date"? She would have told them I left with Alvin. Was he being seen as a suspect or another victim of disappearance in all of this?

And then there was Jude and Keegan, so far away from Sharilton. How long until they'd heard the news? Did they even know yet? Or were they too busy trying to fix Milla's legs to worry?

The thought, surprisingly bitter, stopped me short and I had to shake my head. I pulled myself into a sitting position, lightly slapping my cheeks. Even if they knew, what could they do? Elias had told me plain and clear - nobody was getting into this fortress to save me. It didn't matter how many people knew, how many powerful allies I believed myself to have.

That meant that nothing had changed. Finding a way out of here myself was my only chance at escape. Keegan, Alvin, Milla - none of them were coming to my rescue this time.

It had to be me. It didn't matter if I lacked Milla's resolve or Jude's warm tenacity - I had to find a way.

I twisted the lilium orb, summoning the shimmering web. The light was so faint that it did little to illuminate my dim surroundings, but it gave me something to focus on besides the dingy steel walls.

I realized it was the first time since buying the orb in the Aladhi Seahaven that I'd really examined it. When I'd bought it, the web had been just that - an empty web. Now, I saw glowing points dotting the inner layers. In the very center, the faint image of a flower with closed petals could be seen.

I sighed softly. What did that mean? Was it a measure of my progress? Had I gotten stronger since arriving here? That was clearly the case, considering I could barely lift a sword at first. But now…

I twisted the orb again, snuffing out the light.

Yes. It had to be me.

Later that day, as Boris was bringing me my meal, my opportunity presented itself like a dazzling treasure. I didn't pay much attention as he slid the tray beneath the cell door - I never did, because I was beginning to learn that it never changed. A dingy metal tray, with no cutlery or dishes, and a metal cup with lukewarm water. The meal was usually an unidentifiable mush of vegetables, sometimes with a slice of bread, if I was lucky.

That was why Boris's words caught me so off guard.

"Something different today!" he said, annoyingly chipper as ever.

I glanced at the tray and found he was right. In place of the mush was a steaming pile of colourful vegetables, alongside a large leg of some sort of bird meat. Normally my stomach would have roared to life, but the smell actually had the opposite effect and I began to feel nauseous.

"Can't have your energy levels getting too low," said Boris, jotting something down on his clipboard. "Don't get used to the luxury, mind you, but a little extra protein here and there will do wonders for your durability."

I glared at him, hatred bubbling in my chest. The tray sat untouched between us.

"I can't make you eat it," said Boris. "But I would advise you do. I can assure you that without proper nutrition, you won't last."

"Does Elias even care about that?"

"Perhaps not," he said, and then he gave me a strange look. For the first time since I'd met him, there was a sense of clarity that was missing from his typical doe-eyed persona. "But I do."

I didn't know what to say. I blinked and the look was gone, that infuriating smile back in its place.

"I'll be back in a little bit to collect the tray. Try to eat something - I promise you'll feel much better."

Then he was gone, leaving me completely astonished. What was he doing? He never left me alone with my meal. While there wasn't really anything I could get away with having only metal dishes and mushy food, he still watched me like a hawk. Why was this any different? And the special meal?

It had to be a trick. Poison, or some kind of drug, hidden in the meat. There was no way anyone in this place would show me an act of kindness simply for the sake of being kind.

It had to be a trick.

I wasn't sure how much time passed, but it felt like an eternity, and Boris still hadn't returned. The nausea had faded and in its place a painful hunger had settled. Any heat from the tray had long since cooled, but the smell lingered and made my mouth water.

You need to eat, a voice chided. As usual, it took the form of Keegan's dry chastising. If you want to escape, you need to keep up your strength.

It was an inevitable truth. As much as I hated the thought, I had to risk whatever trick Boris was trying to pull. Angry tears pricked my eyes. Fuck it.

This meal was a lot more dignifying to eat, even without utensils. I started first with the vegetables, relishing how fresh and crisp they tasted. I could taste a lot of salt coating them - perhaps so I could more easily retain my water. Once I was finished, I eyed the leg of meat carefully.

The growl of my stomach was like a trigger. I grabbed the leg and took a deep, cautious bite. One bite turned into two, then three, until pretty soon I was unceremoniously scarfing down the entire thing. Fatty meats normally disgusted me but I salvaged every bit of sinew and skin I could until I was left with a polished bone.

It was as I was finishing it off that I felt a sudden burst of pain against my lower lip. I dropped the bone in surprise, bringing my fingers to my mouth. When I pulled them away, they were covered in blood.

"Shit," I hissed, bringing the collar of my dress up to my mouth to stanch the bleeding. I grabbed the bone, turning it over in my hand. The edge of it was sharp and jagged, as though part of it had been snapped off.

My heart climbed into my throat. This couldn't be right. How could Boris let something so big slide past him? The break looked deliberate, chopped and chiseled in just such a way to make a jagged point. There was no way this was some overlooked, natural occurrence. It couldn't be that easy. It just couldn't.

What was Boris playing at?

I heard the distant sound of footsteps down the hallway and flew into panic. With shaking fingers, I lifted my dress and tucked the bone beneath the waistband of my underwear. It was a potentially foolish move. If Boris noticed the bone was missing from the tray, I would be punished.

I have to try.

The door opened seconds later and Boris entered, stopping in surprise when he saw the blood dripping from my lip.

"My! What happened to you?"

"I…um…" I brushed my fingers against my lips, surprised for a moment at just how heavily I bled. "I bit my lip."

I couldn't read his expression. His eyes fell on the tray and softened.

"Excited for such a hearty meal, hm? I knew you would be. Now, be a good girl and slide the tray back to me."

I shoved the tray under the door with my foot. My heartbeat thundered in my ears.

"I'm going to dispose of this," he said, bending to pick up the tray. Every brief pause he took made me want to cry. "And then I'll be back to fetch you for today's procedure. Don't go anywhere!"

He chuckled at his own joke before turning and exiting the room. I waited ten seconds before exhaling loudly, a tremble wracking my body. I couldn't believe that had actually worked. How hadn't he noticed?

"Any potential dissenters have been...dealt with."

Elias's words echoed in my ears. Was it possible he was wrong? Was Boris trying to help me? My fingers twitched. It couldn't be this easy. Food in my belly, a weapon in hand - was this my chance at escape?

I frantically clawed at scraps in my brain and tried to patch them together into a plan. Right before they strapped me to the table - that was my opening. Elias's back would be turned prepping the serum, Boris would be preparing the buckles…

But the damn hex shackle. Even if I managed to get away from the two of them, I wasn't going to make it very far without blowing myself up. Was it possible either Boris or Elias had the key on them? If they didn't, I was just going to have to find it somewhere else. Rowen and the others had deactivated the hex zones when they saved the girls - I would do the same. I had to.

I was getting myself out of here. There was no choice. The thought of putting such a plan into action terrified me, but the thought of dying slowly in this place scared me even more. I had to do this.

I had to.

I jumped at the sound of the door opening. Boris had returned, moving briskly across the room to unlock the cell. I fell still, clenching my teeth together.

"You know the drill. Up."

I nodded. After the first few days I'd lost most of my defiance, but I took special care this time to quickly do as I was told. Perhaps Boris noticed because he gave me a careful look as I passed him. I pulled my bottom lip between my teeth and averted my gaze.

I paid careful attention to our surroundings as we made our way to the lab. Floors above us, high windows let light spill into the fortress, mostly dissipating by the time it reached the bottom. I knew by now elevators were stationed fairly regularly throughout the fortress - or at least throughout this floor.

The further we walked, the harder my heart slammed against my chest. There had to be medical supplies - a scalpel maybe, or scissors - that I could grab during my escape. Most of the rooms in this place were locked by card keys, so I would have to make sure I stole one from either Boris or Elias. Anything else would have to come to me along the way. I didn't have time for a fine-tuned plan.

As usual, Elias was beaming from ear to ear as we entered the lab. With my belly as full as it was, it was the first time I'd clearly seen his face in a few days. If he noticed my sudden clarity, he didn't mention it. In fact, he didn't even comment on the blood smeared across my chin.

"There's my little mouse." He clapped his hands together, nodding towards Boris. "Boris, why don't you ready the sedative while I finish up at the workbench here?"

"Sir."

I wasn't surprised when Boris moved away, leaving me unattended. I didn't have the strength to flail and kick and scream anymore. There was no danger in turning their backs on me.

I carefully inched my fingers along the hem of my dress. Only when I was sure neither of them were looking did I pluck the bone from my waistband. I kept my hands buried in the folds of my dress. My heart climbed into my throat, limbs shaking. I had to act quickly. I had to do it now. Elias was hunched over the desk, hair falling over his shoulder. This was my only chance. This was my window. Move, move, move-

Now.

I lunged forward and swung for the tender skin of Elias's exposed neck. My swing found purchase…

…but it was through Elias's cheek as he turned to dodge me. The cut was shallow, but a handful of ruby beads swelled from the surface. When he sidestepped I stumbled forward, where he proceeded to grab a fistful of my hair and slam my head against the table. He held me pinned there, leaning forward to growl against my ear.

"My little mouse has teeth, does she? And here I thought you'd lost your fight."

"Fuck you," I hissed, spitting on the desk. Stars danced in my vision. The bone was still gripped tightly in my hand but one harsh squeeze of my wrist and it fell with a faint clatter.

"Let's take a look at our brave warrior's weapon of choice, shall we?" He released my wrist and plucked the bone from the desk. Through the veil of hair obscuring my face, I watched him examine it thoughtfully. "Is this a bone? Where, pray tell, did you get this?"

"The fault is mine sir," Boris spoke up nervously. "I-I thought a bit of extra nutrition might help the serum take more smoothly. I should have realized the bone was missing from the tray, I just-"

"Worry not, dear Boris," said Elias in a calm tone. "If anything, it would appear your blunder has provided us with a valuable learning opportunity today."

My pulse quickened in fear.

Elias tugged me by the hair to my feet and proceeded to drag me across the room. He snapped his fingers at Boris and, like usual, the two attempted to secure me to the table.

I wasn't going to let that happen. Not this time.

Newfound adrenaline surged to life in the form of a scream. I kicked and thrashed, ripping my limbs away from them any time they got close to securing me. I was trying anything a screaming toddler would try to avoid bedtime. I was feral, unhinged.

But then I felt the familiar, dull pain of a needle pricking the crook of my elbow. I sucked air between my teeth, clawing at the space beside me. My fingers met air. My limbs quickly grew heavy and useless and I stilled on the table. The only thing that retained movement was the frantic rise and fall of my chest. I was too weak to even cry, though the urge gripped me all the same.

My one chance. I fucked up my one and only chance.

It felt as though my lungs were swelling in my chest. Breathing came with great difficulty, causing a tightness in my throat. Elias watched me, lips upturned slightly. I returned his gaze with all the hatred I could muster - though that was hard. I couldn't really move my face. As Boris began securing the buckles, Elias began to speak.

"Now then," he said. "I'm assuming this little 'attack' of yours was some sort of valiant effort at escape. I admire the audacity, but it would appear your technical skill is quite lacking. Before we get started with today's procedure, I think it's only fair that I take it upon myself to give you a few pointers. You know - for your next attempt."

"Sir?" I heard Boris's nervous voice somewhere behind me.

Elias had moved to the desk to grab something. Before I could process what he was doing, he'd crossed the room and, in one swift motion, brought the bone down across the exposed skin of my thigh, all the way down to my knee.

I let out a strangled cry, both from pain and shock. My muscles ached to contort and twist away from him, but I couldn't move. Blood spattered from the cut onto Elias's lab coat, and with the gleeful smirk donning his face, he'd never looked more like a mad scientist. The sight of him blurred, my eyes filling with tears.

"Dr. Elias," said Boris, his alarm clear in his voice.

"You weren't quick enough," said Elias. He moved to stand over me, pushing my hair away from my forehead. "There can't be any hesitation if you wish to catch your opponent off guard. Thanks to your sluggish movements, I was able to easily avoid you. You need to act like your weapon is an extension of you, that it moves in time with your own body. Not to mention…" He lightly tapped the bone against the open wound, drawing out another whimper. "In many situations, taking out a leg first is a good way to debilitate your opponent."

"Dr. Elias perhaps we should proceed with the serum-"

"Quiet, Boris," Elias snapped, glaring up at the other man. He returned his gaze to me, and if I wasn't already unable to move it would have frozen me. "Now, once you have your opponent incapacitated, you have several options. It all depends on your desired outcome. Most would enact a swift, absolute defeat."

And then my terror threatened to burst through my skin as he brought the bone's jagged tip to the skin of my throat. He trailed it around so that it was pressed into the soft flesh of my pulse. He lingered for a few, agonizing moments before backing away. I let out a long breath.

"I prefer to take a more tactical approach. Ensure that no further attacks can be possible. If your opponent is already on the ground, you can really take your time with this part."

He gently twisted my arm, revealing the soft inner skin of my forearm. I knew what was coming and I summoned enough strength to shake my head, frenzied pleas falling from my lips.

"Please stop. You don't have to do this. You don't-"

But I cut off into another pained cry as he sliced through my arm, as methodically as cutting into a hunk of steak. I sank my teeth into my lip in an effort to stifle my cries.

"Dr. Elias," said Boris again, and this time there was a firmness to his voice I'd never heard before. He moved around the side of the table to grab Elias's wrist, tugging him away from me. "I apologize for my boldness, but I don't think this is a good idea. You said yourself that she could be our last hope. The serum has already considerably sapped her strength. If she bleeds out-"

"Enough." Elias's tone was clipped as he jerked away from Boris, but he tossed the bone onto the nearby tray all the same. He adjusted his glasses, turning to give me another smug look. "I trust our mouse has learned a valuable lesson. Tend to her wounds and then throw her back in her cell - we will try again tomorrow."

"S-Sir."

And then Elias was gone, moving swiftly from the room and taking the bulk of my fear with him. A few long moments passed where neither of us spoke, and all that was left for me to focus on was the searing pain coming from my limbs.

Eventually I sensed movement from behind me. Boris began unfastening the buckles. I refused to look at him, tears rolling down my cheeks. Even when my limbs were no longer secured to the table, I couldn't find the strength to move.

"You should be able to sit up," said Boris. He moved to slide his hand under the base of my neck but I instinctively jerked my head away from him. A small sigh passed his lips. "I'm trying to help."

I locked my jaw. Bullshit. No such thing.

"I won't let you bleed out on this table. You can cooperate or not."

I sniffed, cautioning a glance towards him. He had moved to rummage through the drawers of the desk, retrieving items and placing them on top. I caught sight of a handful of gels, some gauze, medical scissors, surgical thread. I wiggled my fingers first, then made an attempt to lift my arms. The muscles were stiff and barely movable, despite what Boris said, and when I tried to prop myself onto my elbows they gave out from the weight and sheer pain of my right arm.

"I-I can't," I groaned.

"Very well." I was beginning to notice his features were settling into cold steel - a stark change from before. "At the very least, I want you to immediately put pressure on those wounds. Left hand on your right arm, right arm on your leg. Can you do that for me?"

It stung like hell but I did what I was told. I bundled my dress in my fist and pressed down on my leg, while my other wound had no protection but the flat of my palm. Both actions stung, and it was clumsy and awkward trying to keep equal amounts of pressure. Blood had already irreparably stained the skirts of my dress, had made my fingers slick and red. I measured my breathing, keeping my eyes locked on Boris as he returned to the desk.

Eventually he scraped his chair across the metal floor towards the cot. He dumped his supplies on the metal tray beside us and then moved to the sink to fill a shallow wooden basin with water. He grabbed another fistful of cloths from the cabinet before returning to his seat.

"We'll start with your arm, since the vein is more vital." He grabbed a cloth and handed it to me. "Keep this on the wound on your leg."

It took a bit of fumbling, but I lifted the skirt of my dress and pressed down on the cloth. I bit back a cry as a fresh surge of pain rushed through me. Boris, meanwhile, had taken another cloth and soaked half of it in the water. Without warning, he grabbed my arm and pulled it straight. I released the cry I was holding.

"The more you resist, the longer this will take," he said impatiently. "Now move your hand."

I reluctantly moved my hand to join the one already pressed on my leg. Keeping a firm grip on my arm, Boris began cleaning the area around the cut with surprising gentleness. He motioned towards the small pile of gels sitting on the tray.

"If you can reach, take a gel for the pain."

"O-Okay." The next few minutes were a struggle as I attempted to both reach for and open the gel with one hand. I eventually succeeded, surprised when a strong citrus scent wafted up from the tin.

Boris glanced briefly at my surprised face and shook his head.

"What?"

"Nothing," I said, downing the contents. The taste of lemon, strong and sweet after days of such bland, tasteless food, sat pleasantly on my tongue. "I wasn't expecting the good stuff."

To my surprise, he let out an irritated sigh. His dreamy demeanour had shattered, his brow furrowing as his expression twisted into something sour.

"You're truly an idiot."

"What?" I jolted, the sudden action causing my arm to wrench painfully in his grip. I sucked air through my teeth, waiting for the gel to numb the sting. "What are you talking about?"

Boris shook his head. Though the wound still seeped blood, he'd succeeded in cleaning away most of the excess. He grabbed another gel, gently sweeping a layer from the tin across the skin. When he reached for the needle and thread, I gulped.

"This will be the worst part. You'll likely want to grab something to squeeze with your free hand - another cloth, the edge of the cot. Up to you."

The fact that he hadn't answered left me restless. I wanted to push further, but then the needle was through my skin and I was left to focus on biting back another cry of pain. My hand flew to tightly grip the edge of the cot, trying to focus instead on the dull ache of the metal bar digging into my palm.

"You've had a chance to explore the world," said Boris as he worked. "You've been through real battles, have slept within the same breath of the Lord of Spirits. I would have hoped such experiences had left you with a bit more common sense."

I hissed as he tugged the thread, pulling the skin together. A few seconds passed and then he reached for the scissors and snipped the thread. He sat back, stretching out his posture. The pause was brief, and then he got to work wrapping gauze around my arm. It was only when the bandage had been tightly secured that I spoke, swallowing around the dryness of my throat.

"You left that bone in the meat on purpose, didn't you?"

He ran his tongue across his teeth.

"Why would you do that?" My heart pounded. Elias was volatile, unpredictable. I'd never experienced the same from Boris, but caution forced me to expect it.

"Because," he said, reaching for a fresh, damp cloth. I lifted my hand to allow him access to the wound on my leg. "I didn't think you'd be stupid enough to use such an opportunity so recklessly. Just how did you plan on escaping? Did you have an exit strategy? Did you just plan on making it up as you went along? Your predecessor was smart enough to gather all the facts about his situation before he went flinging himself into danger."

My jaw fell open. The sting of the cloth against my leg went ignored - all I felt was pure shock.

"Keegan?"

"Do you really think he managed to break out of this place all on his own? Him? That weak, decaying husk of a boy?"

Boris's tone, so uncharacteristically harsh, was hard to swallow. Despite the fact that he was helping me right now, I felt that any sudden movement I made would cause him to bury his fingers into my open flesh as punishment. I was at his mercy.

I swallowed again, forcing myself to speak.

"Of course not. He...he told me he had help. A kind lab assistant who gave him extra food, and gels, a-and…" I trailed off. Boris wasn't acknowledging anything I said but I kept going. "That was you, wasn't it? He told me Elias must have killed you, but-"

"It wasn't me," he said sharply, dropping the cloth into the basin with a loud splash. "I would never be so foolish. I knew from the start that defying Exodus would be…" He shook his head, giving a weary sigh. "But Fletcher was always so idealistic. Too much so, for his own good."

"Fletcher…" It wasn't a name I recognized, but the look on Boris's face as he spoke it told me everything. I felt his grief like it was my own, the weight of it crushing my chest. "He was the one who helped Keegan escape?"

"Against my better judgment." A brief tremor rippled through his body. He took half a moment to compose himself before reaching for another gel for my leg. His hands were steady when he returned to work. "Fletcher didn't believe Elias was serious about this plan until the first test subject ended up here. He wanted to help Keegan escape right away but I told him it was a fool's errand. I warned him to keep his head down and stay out of trouble until the higher-ups found a way to get us back home."

"Elympios."

"Right." His lips twitched. He began his work on the second set of stitches and I held my breath. I expected him to continue on with his story, but he'd fallen silent. His brow knitted in concentration as he worked.

"But he obviously did it anyway," I said.

"Yes."

More silence. I lifted my eyes to the ceiling, tears pricking my eyes. Fuck this hurt. I had to force out my next words between gritted teeth.

"You're obviously not totally evil if you tried to help me. Why bother with the bumbling assistant act? Why help that asshole at all?" The anger bubbled up in my throat before I could stop it. I concentrated on the pain to remind myself that he was the one helping me right now. "People have died because of him. Because of him, Blair is…"

"Do you think I don't know that?" He pulled the thread tightly and clipped it with the scissors. After wrapping my leg he pushed away from the cot, wiping his bloodied hands on his lab coat. A vein pulsed in his forehead. "Elias wasn't always like this. He gave me this job, made it so that Fletcher and I could meet. Without him…" He swallowed. "All he ever wanted was to help our world. He saw it was dying, saw that Gilland's solution offered only destruction. I never could have imagined that it would evolve into this. I didn't...I didn't know."

Now that he was a safe distance away, I exhaled. My pulse thudded loudly in my ears.

"But you're still helping him now. He murdered the person you love, and you're still actually-"

"I don't have a choice." He slammed his hands against the desk, fingers gripping its edges so tightly his knuckles whitened. "What don't you understand? If I walk away, he'll just fill the gap with someone who doesn't give a shit what happens to his test subjects. I have to stay and keep people like you alive."

"I don't want to just stay alive." With excruciating effort I peeled myself off of the cot, nearly buckling to the ground from the pain of putting pressure on my leg. Still, I stubbornly righted myself, shifting my weight to my good leg. "I want to get out of here. And then I want to make sure he never hurts anyone again."

"Well, you certainly ruined any chance of that happening, didn't you?" He turned to give me a harrowing look. "I already tried to help you and like a fool you threw that chance away."

"So that's it? I have to just give up?"

"I didn't say that. However, it will be quite some time before I can arrange another attempt without Elias becoming suspicious. We will both have to practice patience."

"No." I hobbled across the room to stand in front of him, grabbing his arm. "I don't have time for that. I refuse to spend years wasting away in here like Keegan. I refuse to become another Blair. You need to help me get out of here as soon as possible."

He jerked his arm away. "You don't know what you're asking me to do. Have you forgotten we're standing in a top military facility that is currently under maximum security protocols thanks to your friends? There is no getting you out of here. Not like this. We have to wait."

I vigorously shook my head.

"No. You're going to find a way. If I have to fight I...I will. I'll do whatever it takes." My voice crumbled to a whisper. "I can't stand another second in this place. Please."

His jaw locked.

"I'll be killed if I'm caught helping you."

"I'm sorry…" I shrank back. The thought had obviously occurred to me, but hearing him say it… "I don't want that. I swear. I don't want anyone to die anymore. If you can't help me, I understand, but…" I clamped my lips shut, eyes growing hot. "You're my only hope. Y'know?"

"I know." He carefully studied my face, running a hand across his chin. His eyes flitted towards the door. When he spoke again, it was in a whisper. "There's an old vent that lets out at the bottom of a small ravine, a little ways outside the fortress. It's old - so coated in rust it blends into the wall. Only a handful of old Rashugal vets know about it. It's in an unused barrack."

"Is that how Keegan escaped?"

He nodded. "Fletcher was the one who found it. He never told Elias or Gilland how it happened. It's part of the reason why…"

"Right. You don't have to say it."

There was a long silence before he spoke again.

"Tomorrow night. On the third hourly guard change there's a gap that they haven't filled yet since the infiltration. It's only in one small section of the fortress, but cover is sparse enough as it is at that hour. It should do the trick if we play our cards right." He crossed his arms, eyes dropping to the shackle around my ankle. "I'll get that thing off of you and get you in vicinity of the barrack."

"If you're at risk of being seen with me, I want you to run," I said. The very thought filled me with fear but it had to be said. I couldn't expect someone I barely knew to give up his life for me. "Okay?"

"You don't have to tell me that," he scoffed. Still, he swallowed forcefully, his eyes flitting yet again to the closed door. "I should get you back to your cell. I'm sorry there wasn't more I could do for your injuries, but…" He shrugged, lightly tapping his temple.

"I get it," I said with a dry chuckle. "Elympios and Earth… it's too bad we have to be at odds like this, you know? We're not so different. We've both got our share of assholes, that's for sure." I bit my bottom lip, eyes drifting to the floor. "I never knew how lucky I was. I thought that this place was so scary when I first got here, but Earth is probably just as bad. I was just lucky enough for none of it to affect me."

Boris nodded solemnly. "Well, you can't be faulted for that. You're just one girl."

I said nothing. Was that really an excuse? I saw how people like Milla, even without powers, could achieve great things. When had I ever even tried? I flexed my fingers absently as a thought occurred to me.

"Boris. Is it true that the spirit fossil is in Fennmont? The one for that spyrix Keegan has?"

"Hm?" His eyebrows rose in surprise. "Where did you hear that?"

"Is it true?"

"I'm not sure what good knowing that information will do you," he said. "But, yes. It's been taken to the lab there for further testing. Spirit fossils and spyrite research are at the forefront of Gilland's personal agenda, and he does spend the bulk of his time there…" Boris shook his head. "Again, this information is useless to you. There's no way you're getting to it."

But it's my only chance, I wanted to argue. I knew it was pointless having that conversation with Boris, and from his perspective he had a point. I didn't have the skill to break into a research lab all by myself. But if Milla was planning on storming Nachtigal's front door anyway…

"Tomorrow night," said Boris, breaking me out of my thoughts. He'd moved towards the door, resting his hand on the surface. "Be ready. It's the only chance we'll have."

I channeled all my focus into the pain of my arm, the dull throb of my leg. For the first time in days, the constant headache clouding my brain was lifting. I felt renewed. Determined. Silently, I allowed Boris to lead me back to my cell. For the first time, I didn't feel crushing despair. As the door slid shut behind me, all I could do was smile.

Hope everyone is making out okay during these scary times! My whole province is on lockdown right now so I'm holed up in my home with nothing to do but write and game. Living my best life tbh. Still, hope everyone is staying safe! Thanks for reading, as always