The man behind Adara cleared his throat loudly; making her get out of her head and back to reality; she turned as she faced so much as a reality of her situation hit her ‘who is this man? where what am I? How will I get out of here now?’ The man, seeing panic start to rise on Adara’s face decided to speak up

“I can see you've realized your predicament” he says “But don't worry I'm not going to do anything I'm just…Curious. If you answer my question, I'll let you walk out of that at that door.” He says and points at the exit door.

“O-okay” Adara replied. She didn't know if she could trust them but right now, she had no other options

“Well then before I was rudely interrupted” he says and looks as her “I was about to ask you if you are from around here?” he askes

“No” Adara replied

The man slightly nodes his head, as if he’s confirming something “So then where are you from” he askes

Adara gives him a questioning look “Why do you want to know that?” she retorts

“Like I said, some simple questions to quench my curiosity” He replies

After a moments of silence Adara gives up and answers his question “I’m from down south”

“Really, which town?”

“Why dose that matter?” Adara asks annoyed, feeling like he’s digging to deep.

This the man give in “Well I guess it does not” He says “I’m just wondering how it was that you did not recognize me”

“Am I supposed to?” Adara asks, this time she was genuinely curious.

The man chuckles and waves his hand as to dismiss her question “No no, not at all”

“Now on to my next question” he said without skipping a beat, as if the previous question no longer interested him.

“How's it going to say are you acquainted with this young fighter?” he asked

“You mean Akilah?” Adara replied

The man nodded in reply

“Umm well yes…So to speak” Adara continued

“So to speak?” The man asked perplexed “What does that mean? Do you know him or not?”

“Yes well…That depends” Adara replied

“Depends on what?” He asked

“It depends on what you’re going to do with that information”

The man let out a soft sigh “I’m not going to do anything bad, like I said I’m just curious. I mean put yourself in my shoes, I walk into my room seeing that a stranger had broken-”

“Well technically I didn’t-” Adara tried to interject but the man continued, nonetheless.

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“To see that a strange had broken into it because they were eager to see the fight. Now isn’t that a bit odd?”

Adara sighed, she knew he was right. He could have called the guards as soon as he saw her and thrown her out, but he didn’t he let her stay and watch the fight to the finish. Adara figured he couldn’t have been that bad of a person if he hade shown her this much kindness and understanding.

“Yes, I know the fighter Akilah” She finally said

“What’s you relationship with him, family, friends or perhaps” he paused before continuing “Are you secret lovers, is that why you’re hiding away here?”

Adara was embarrassed by his words and felt her cheeks flush “ABSOLUTELY NOT!” she said, before covering her mouth as she had not expected to say it that loudly. She cleared her throat and continued in a calmer manner “Akilah is my friend, my childhood friend, that’s that. The reason I’m here is because she- I mean he hadn’t told me about this fight. I don’t know why but he kept it a secret from me”

‘That was close’ Adara thought ‘I almost exposed Akilah’s real identity’. Adara figured it would be better to answer future questions in a more concise, as to misspeak again now accidently.

“So you’re not lovers just friends” He reiterated “Well that’s good” he said with a smirk “He looked a bit too young”

‘D-Did he just call me old’ Adara thought ‘He looks no younger than me, actually he looks older than me. The audacity of this man’. Her face showing a hint of annoyance.

“Did I offend you ma’am” He said with a knowing smile.

‘MA’AM, did he just call me ma’am? I’m not old enough to be called ma’am’ She thought and could feel her body heat rise with her anger.

“It seems that I have offended you ma’am”

“I’m not as old as to be called ma’am, especially by someone you’re age” Adara stated firmly

The man smirked, with made Adara even more angry as she took it as a sign of him laughing at her

“Ah yes, I do apologize-”

“I don’t need you’re apology. Is there anything else you need from me or am I free to go now” Adara said, now looking noticeably more annoyed.

The man took in a deep inhaled before answering “No I have no further questions, ma’- my lady”

Adara didn’t know if that last remark was made on purpose or not and she didn’t bother refuting it, she just wanted to get out of there. But just as she exited the door her hand was grabbed, she turned around and saw the same man from the room”

“What-” Adara couldn’t finish her question before he interrupted.

He pulled out a trinket out of his breast pocket and extended it to her “If you’re ever in the area again, use this to get into places” he says and glides the item into the palm of her hand “That way you won’t need to sneak in next time” he say sly smile.

“I-” Adara hadn’t fully comprehended what had just happened before he let go of her hand and signaled behind him, someone was about the open the corridor doors

“The door is locked but you best be of your way if you do not want to get caught by the guards” he said.

Adara didn’t stay around to watch the door opened, she hurriedly went out of the same way she had come in. She didn’t stop until she was out in the open streets again.

---

Back in the room the man was standing against his desk looking down at the ripped newspaper Adara had left behind on it, when another man came out from the shadows and knelt down before him

“Oena at you service sir. Sir why did you let’s her get away; she could have been an enemy spy” Oena asked

“Don’t be ridiculous she is not a spy; I could read her like an open book” the man replied

“Yes but still sir she broke into you’re private room, that’s not a small crime” Oena said

The man chucked “Well that would be a shame would it not, she was by far to beautiful to be locked up”

---

Back out on the streets Adara had managed to go back to the candy stalls by asking around for directions, she looked around for Akilah but could not find her when suddenly she was spun around, behind her was Akilah, back to her old self, looking at Adara with a mix of anger and relief

“WHERE WERE YOU! Adara I was worried sick about you” Akilah loudly stated, thankfully her yells were covered up by the large crowed around them, therefore not exposing them to unwanted attention.

Adara had tuned Akilah shouting out as well, she wasn’t in the mood to get lectured, especially not by Akilah.

Akilah placed her hand om Adara’s shoulder, gripping her firmly “Adara are you listening to me? Where were you? Answer my questions”

Those last words made Adara tuned back in, she calmly but firmly removed Akilah’s hands from her shoulders

“No Akilah” she said and pulled out the ripped newspaper covers about the fight out of her pocket “I think you should be answering my questions”.