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Taking a deep breath and pushing away the lingering unease, I started to make my way to the door.
As I reached it, I glanced back to see Ikhax still engrossed in serving his cake.
Stepping out, the door shut behind me with a soft, almost inaudible hiss, sealing Ikhax and his intriguing world away, at least for the time being.
I hurried back to the Prize Pool, my heels clicking against the cold, hard floor, each step echoing the rapid beat of my heart.
The looming walls of the prison seemed to press in on me from every side, but my thoughts were consumed by one thing:
Kuana.
How could I convince him to leave this place?
What could possibly tie him so strongly to this prison that the prospect of freedom held no allure?
And more importantly, how could I breach the walls he’d built around himself?
I had seen a glimmer of the Kuana I once knew in his eyes, but was that enough?
Reaching the Prize Pool, I paused to catch my breath, leaning against the cool metal railing.
Below, the familiar sights and sounds of the prison’s social hub greeted me — prisoners mingling, trading, laughing, arguing.
But it all felt so distant, so inconsequential compared to the whirlwind of emotions churning within me.
I needed to find a way to reach out to Kuana, to remind him of what we once shared, of the life that awaited us beyond these walls.
I knew the risks of our escape, but the thought of being trapped here, of becoming one of Ikhax’s playthings, was even more terrifying.
Closing my eyes, I took a deep, steadying breath, pushing away the dread and fear.
I had always been a fighter, and this was no different.
I would find a way to get through to Kuana, to make him see reason.
For both our sakes, I desperately hoped I could.
Three days.
That was all I had.
Three days.
7
KUANA
The cold gray dawn crept through the gaps in the prison walls, casting an eerie light over the cell.
I lay in bed, eyes closed, but fully awake, still processing the whirlwind of the night before.
The sensation of Violet’s touch, the warmth of her embrace, and the familiarity of her presence; all of it was so fresh, as if she’d never left.
Drawing my hand to my nose, I inhaled deeply.
Her scent lingered on my skin — a sweet blend of starberries and night jasmine.
It was intoxicating, making my heart race all over again.
