Slam.
The sound ripped me out of my half-conscious state.
The door burst open so violently I jolted in the chair, pain shooting through my arms and shoulders.
Before I could even react, two armed guards stormed in.
"Hey—what the hell are you doing?!" I shouted.
They didn't answer.
Rough hands grabbed my arms and yanked me up. My feet barely touched the ground as they dragged me out of the cell.
One of them pulled out a rope and a thick cloth.
"Wait—what the—!"
The cloth was shoved over my mouth and eyes, tied tight behind my head.
"Hmmp—!"
I struggled, twisting my body, but it was useless. They ignored me completely, like I wasn't even human—just cargo.
They dragged me forward and suddenly—
Thud.
They tossed me onto the ground.
"Tugh—!" I groaned as pain exploded through my side.
Where… where am I?
Hands lifted me again and forced me down onto a chair. The rope tightened around my wrists, binding me to it.
Did they just transport me to another room?
The air felt different. Colder. Quieter.
Are they hiding me?
The door slammed shut again.
Silence.
Time passed.
Minutes… maybe hours.I couldn't tell.
No footsteps. No voices.
Are they just going to leave me here?
My thoughts spiraled, exhaustion dragging me deeper into my own head. My wound throbbed. My magic was nearly gone.
Then—
The door opened.
Soft footsteps approached.
A whisper brushed my ear.
"Good thing you're still alive, huh?"
My heart skipped.
That voice—
Wait.
I froze.
I recognized that voice.
Volt.
"Hmmp—!" I tried to speak, struggling against the cloth.
"Relax," he whispered quickly. "It's me."
My mind raced.
How… how did he get in here?
This was a high-security imperial facility. Cameras. Guards. Patrols.
Did someone let him in?
An inside job?No—impossible.
Volt carefully loosened the rope around my mouth just enough for me to speak.
"You shouldn't be here," I whispered hoarsely.
He paused.
"…Why?"
"There's no way out," I said quietly. "If you get caught—"
"We're not letting the Empire take you," Volt cut in. His voice was firm, but low. "I know what they do. I've seen it. They'll break you."
I clenched my fists.
I didn't want that.But worse—I didn't want him dragged down because of me.
"I messed up," I said. "This is my fault."
Silence.
Volt exhaled slowly.
"Focus on surviving," he whispered. "I'll find a way. Even if it takes time."
Footsteps echoed faintly in the distance.
Volt stiffened.
Without another word, he stepped back.
In a split second, he retied the rope around my mouth and wrists, careful to make it look untouched. His posture changed, his presence shrinking—slipping back into disguise.
"I'll be back," he murmured. "Sooner or later."
Then he moved away.
The door shut quietly.
Click.
Darkness.
Silence.
I slumped forward as much as the ropes allowed.
…Alone again.
But this time—
I wasn't completely hopeless.
Because now I knew.
Someone was still looking for me.