Grishaverse Oneshots

Burn Brekker, Burn

A/n: If you've seen the Witcher, you probably recognize the title and guess where this one-shot is going. If you haven't watched the Witcher I suggest you do. It's a really great show. Now on to the story!

The manhunt had begun. Posters litter the walls. The faces painted on them of people I once trusted. People I once called my friends, my family. I sit idly by the bar. My lute rests in my lap as I lightly strum the strings. I used to play at the Crow Club. Now I play in one of the Razorgull's washed-up pubs. It was the only place I could lay low in the barrel after returning to Ketterdam. 

I glance up at the wall and see the wanted poster hanging by a single rusted nail. My eyes read the big bold number under it once again: 100,000 kruge. My eyes drift up to the face that commands such a reward. 

Kaz Brekker.

The backstabbing bastard of the barrel I used to trust with my life. Oh, how easy it would be to find where he's hiding and turn him in to reap the reward. But every time I think about it something tells me not to. 

My mind wanders back to that last look he gave me as the Fjerdan guards drag me away. It wasn't one of regret or concern, no it was as if the guards were simply removing a nuisance for him. Not one of them said anything as I was dragged away. I fought and kicked but I did not scream. When I realized fighting was pointless I stopped and let the guards drag me away to whatever cell they thought could hold me. Something had snapped in me that day. A rage to watch him and everything he built burn. 

Within seconds I was out of sight of my once friends and a few minutes later the guards came to a stop in front of a large white door. The door swung open on unoiled hinges. The guards threw me in and slammed the door shut behind me. 

"Drüsje." I heard one of the guards spit before turning and leaving. 

I sat up against the back wall of the cell. Part of me wanted to believe that this was all part of the plan, that Kaz or Jesper or Inej would come and let me out. I wanted to believe that they would come for me and I would punch Kaz's shoulder, call him a bastard and laugh about this years down the road when we were all richer than merchants. 

But that never happened. 

And they never came. 

I sat alone in that cell as the alarm of Black Protocol screamed out above the ice. I sat alone in that cell well after they died down. I sat alone in that cell as days passed as no one, not even guards, walked down that hall. 

I was thin.

I was cold.

I was starving.

I was angry. 

Days passed and I knew no one was coming. Whether it be a blessing or a curse I knew no guards were aware I was here. So I picked myself up off the floor and began melting my way to freedom. I used my powers to melt the lock down to nothing but a pile of mush. I used my remaining strength to shove against the door and open it. I looked down the hall. There were no sounds, no lights. 

I snapped my fingers and using the small flame that appeared on the tip of my finger I walked down the hall. 

I paused when I got to the main room I last saw my friends. I blinked away the memory and push forward only to come face to face with a guard. The guard shouted in alarm. I quickly swiped my hand in front of his face, burning his eyes. He screamed out in pain as I turned and sprinted away. My eyes searched wildly for an exit. 

I nearly stopped in surprise at the sight of a huge hole in the ice court wall. I didn't have time to question it as the sound of more guards echoed down the hall. I sprinted out through the hole and away from the Ice court as fast as I could.