Samantha and Max exchanged a brief, tired glance before they rose to their feet, their movements heavy with exhaustion.

“Well, I guess it’s time,” whispered Max.

Their limbs felt stuck to the stone floor, each step requiring great effort. They had been through hell, and it showed in the slump of their shoulders, the weariness etched into the lines of their faces. Countless battles had left their bodies scarred, but it was the unseen wounds that burdened them the most.

The guard’s words, “released,” echoed in Samantha’s mind as they left the cell. Darkness consumed their reality, making the word’s bittersweet taste stand out in her mind. Freedom, yes, but at what cost? The world outside the prison walls was no less dangerous, no less daunting. In fact, it was a world that had only grown more perilous during their captivity. However, together they had resolved to confront it side by side.

The guard followed closely behind them, his presence a constant reminder that their freedom was still conditional, still shadowed by the harsh reality they were leaving behind. The cold, calculated look in his eyes revealed he was not simply escorting them to safety, but was there to ensure that they did not step out of line. His boots clapped against the stone floor in a steady rhythm, a sound that echoed through the narrow corridor, underscoring the tension that hung in the air like a thick fog. Each step seemed to amplify the sense of dread that had settled in Samantha’s chest, a gnawing fear that the worst was yet to come.

As they walked down the long corridor, their footsteps heavy against the stone, Samantha inhaled deeply, attempting to steady the storm of emotions churning inside her. The scent of damp stone and something metallic filled the air, perhaps blood or the lingering remnants of fear embedded in the prison walls. Sabir’s face filled her mind- his hopeful smile, his determined eyes and she exhaled slowly, attempting to stay in the moment. The memory of Sabir was a blessing and a curse; it gave her strength but also tore at her heart with a grief so profound it threatened to consume her. They couldn’t escape the guard’s overbearing shadow, which weighed on them relentlessly.

Max reached out and took her hand, squeezing it gently. His touch was warm, helping ground her in that moment. “We’ll find a way,” he murmured, more a promise than a statement. His voice, though soft, carried an undertone of resolve that reassured Samantha. “We’ll keep going.”

Samantha nodded, her heart heavy but resolute. There was no room for doubt, no space for hesitation. They had no other choice. The guard’s proximity reminded them of the thin line between their current freedom and the captivity they had just escaped, a line they would need to tread carefully. They were free, but not free. The chains that had bound them were gone, but new ones, invisible yet just as restrictive, had taken their place.

Moving forward, they were closely followed by the guard. The darkness of the cell was behind them, but the weight of their past and their losses remained heavy. Every step reminded them how vulnerable they were. Their so-called freedom felt fragile, ready to collapse at any moment.

Samantha and Max continued down the corridor, the dim light casting long shadows on the stone walls. Amidst the oppressive atmosphere, the flickering torches that lined the corridor seemed to sputter and hiss, as if they were also struggling. The weight of their situation pressed heavily on them, and even though they were technically free, it didn’t feel like a victory. Samantha’s mind raced with thoughts of Sabir, and the uncertainty of what lay ahead gnawed at her resolve. She felt as though she were teetering on the edge of a precipice. One wrong move away from falling into a void with no way back.

As they approached the end of the corridor, the light from the outside world grew brighter, almost blinding after the darkness of their cell. The light was harsh, unrelenting, forcing them to squint as they approached. It was as if the outside world itself was a glaring reminder of the harsh reality they were about to face. But just as they were about to step into the light, a figure appeared out of nowhere, blocking their path.

Samantha gasped in surprise as Jai suddenly materialized in front of them. His sudden presence shocked them both. He wore a sharply tailored suit, which stood out against the drab surroundings of the prison.

Jai’s facial hair had grown longer since they had last met. Fuzzy hair lined his cheeks that glistened with sweat from the summer heat. His eyes flicked between them with a cold, calculating look.

“Let’s get moving,” Jai said, his voice calm but authoritative, as he grabbed them both by the arms, his grip firm. His touch was careless, a mechanical motion that unconcealed his thieving nature.

Before they could react, the guard, who had been trailing behind them, stepped forward. “Relax,” the guard said, but this time the voice was softer, distinctly feminine. It was Nia. She dropped her disguise, her appearance morphing from an ugly guard, as she shifted back to her usual self, a beautiful woman with a curvaceous figure. The transformation was surreal, as if they had stepped from one reality into another. Watching her hair grow and turn into a colorful violet was the least shocking, but the uncanny transformation from a burly male build to that of a woman was unsettling.

Samantha and Max exchanged a glance, their confusion only deepening. What was happening? Why were the Triads here? Jai didn’t offer any explanations as he led them out of the prison, the harsh light of the outside world blinding them momentarily. The brightness seared their eyes, forcing them to look away, and they became disoriented in the blinding whiteness for a moment. Once their eyes adjusted, they realized they weren’t at the prison entrance, but in a nearby alleyway. The transition was jarring, the sudden shift from the sterile environment of the prison to the grimy, chaotic world outside.

This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

Above, the narrow walls allowed only a sliver of the sky to be seen. The alley was a world unto itself, a place forgotten by time, where the light of day barely reached. The air was thick with the smell of damp concrete and rotting garbage, a stench that clung to their clothes and invaded their senses. It was a far cry from the pristine corridors of the prison, a reminder that the world outside was not a place of safety, but a battleground where survival was anything but guaranteed.

Sitting casually on a stack of wooden crates, seemingly unfazed by their sudden appearance, was Cinder. She looked up as they approached, her fiery red hair catching the dim light from above. The vibrant color of her hair was a stark contrast to the drab surroundings, a flame in the darkness that refused to be extinguished. She raised an eyebrow as she noticed them, her gaze sharp and assessing. “Where’s the other guy?” she asked, her voice tinged with mild annoyance. There was a hint of impatience in her tone, as though she were waiting for an explanation that she was certain would be unsatisfactory.

Nia, now fully back in her usual form, shook her head. “They were the only ones in the cell,” she replied, her tone matter-of-fact. There was no hint of concern or surprise in her voice, only a cool detachment that suggested she had seen this kind of thing far too many times before.

Max, still reeling from the suddenness of everything, found his voice. “We didn’t need your help. We were gonna leave regardless. And the other guy, Sabir. He’s dead,” he said flatly, his words heavy with despair. The weight of those words hung in the air between them, a grim declaration of the finality of their situation.

Cinder’s expression darkened. She swung her legs off the crate and stood up, her eyes narrowing. There was a tension in the way she moved, a barely restrained fury that simmered just beneath the surface. “Dead? What happened?” she demanded, her voice sharper now, cutting through the silence like a knife.

Samantha swallowed hard, the words catching in her throat. The reality of what had happened was still too fresh, too raw to fully process. “The Voltaires took him,” she finally said, her voice barely above a whisper. “We don’t know why.” The name “Voltaires” felt like a curse on her tongue, a name that carried with it a weight of fear and loathing that was impossible to ignore.

Cinder’s fists clenched, and small flames flickered around her fingers. The flames were a physical manifestation of the rage that burned within her, a rage that posed a danger of engulfing her completely.

“Of course, it’s the fucking nobles,” she spat, her voice laced with venom. The mention of the Voltaires seemed to ignite something in her, a deep-seated anger that was barely contained. The flames danced along her fingertips, casting eerie shadows on the walls of the alley. She took a deep breath, trying to calm herself, but the fire in her eyes didn’t dim. If anything, it burned brighter, fueled by the injustice that had been done.

“He’s as good as dead, then,” Cinder said, her voice cold. The certainty of her words hit Max and Samantha like a punch to the gut. They felt the last bit of hope drain from them, leaving only a hollow emptiness in its place. The finality of her statement was like a death sentence, sealing Sabir’s fate in a way that was impossible to ignore.

The alley fell silent, the reality of their situation settling in like a heavy fog. Samantha could see the same despair mirrored in Max’s eyes, a reflection of the hopelessness they both felt. They were powerless against the Voltaires, a family so entrenched in power that challenging them was akin to signing their own death warrant. The realization was like a lead weight in her stomach, dragging her down into a pit of despair that seemed impossible to climb out of.

Cinder looked at them both, her gaze softening slightly as she saw the defeat written all over their faces. There was a moment of hesitation, a brief flicker of something like sympathy in her eyes. She let out a sigh, recognizing the hopelessness that clung to them like a shroud. “Look, there’s nothing more we can do here. My debt can’t be cleared,” she said, turning to Jai and Nia. Her voice carried a sense of resignation, but an undercurrent of frustration showed that she was far from satisfied with the outcome. “We’re leaving.”

Jai nodded and stepped back, ready to follow Cinder’s lead, while Nia remained silent, her expression unreadable. The two of them moved with the ease of people who were used to following orders, who had long since stopped questioning the morality of their actions. For them, this was just another job, another day in a world that had long ago lost its sense of right and wrong.

Amid leaving the alley, Cinder paused. She reached into her pocket and pulled out a small card. The card was plain, unassuming, but there was a weight to it that suggested it was anything but ordinary. Without looking back, she tossed it to Max. He caught it instinctively, looking down at the card in his hand. It was simple, with only a number printed on it. There were no markings, no name, just a single string of digits that seemed to hold the promise of something dangerous.

“If you want to get back at the nobles,” Cinder said, her voice carrying a hint of something dangerous, “give me a call. You can get paid while doing it.” There was a challenge in her words, a dare that was impossible to ignore. The offer was tempting, seductive even, but it came with the unspoken understanding that it would lead them down a path from which there would be no return.

With that, she turned and walked away; her figure disappearing into the shadows of the alley. Jai and Nia followed closely behind, their footsteps echoing off the walls as they vanished. The alley felt even colder now; the wind biting at their skin as they stood there in stunned silence.

Max looked at the card, turning it over in his hand. It was the only thing they had left, a slim thread of potential revenge. But was it enough? Could they really take on the Voltaires? The question floated in the space between them, heavy and unanswered. The card was both a lifeline and a curse, a promise of retribution that could easily destroy them if they weren’t careful.

Samantha finally broke the silence, her voice quiet but determined. “What do we do now?The question, loaded with uncertainty, reflected the countless possibilities that stretched out before them, each one more perilous than the last.

Max sighed, his grip tightening on the card. The paper crumpled slightly under the pressure of his fingers, a physical manifestation of the tension that had taken hold of him. “I don’t know,” he admitted, the weight of the decision pressing down on him like a vice. The future was a vast, uncharted territory, filled with dangers they couldn’t even imagine. “But whatever we do, we can’t let them get away with this.”

Samantha nodded, her resolve hardening. She knew they were stepping into something dangerous, something that could very well destroy them. But she also knew that doing nothing wasn’t an option. The pain of losing Sabir, the injustice of it all, was too much to bear. They couldn’t just walk away.

Together, they turned and left the alley, the card a seed of vengeance tucked away in Max’s pocket, waiting for the right time to take root and grow. As they walked into the night, the shadows seemed to close in around them, but they were no longer afraid.