Arena of the rogues

III. False Freedom

I was led down a long, dimly lit hallway, the sound of my footsteps echoing against the cold stone floor. I could feel the piercing stares of the guards following my every move as we approached my cell. The guard in front of me sneered as he unlocked the heavy iron door and gestured for me to step inside.

I hesitated for a moment, taking in the sight of the cramped, damp cell. It was empty except for a small cot in the corner and a bucket in the opposite corner for my waste. The guard stepped inside and slammed the door shut behind me, the sound echoing through the cell.

"You'll be spending a lot of time here, so get used to it," he said with a chuckle.

I clenched my fists, refusing to show any signs of weakness. But the reality of my situation was slowly sinking in. I was alone, trapped, and completely at the mercy of my captors.

The guard asked if I needed anything else, his voice dripping with amusement. I shook my head, not wanting to give him the satisfaction of seeing my discomfort.

"Very well then. I'll be back later to check on you," he said before turning and walking away.

I slumped down onto the cot, tears welling up in my eyes. I felt completely powerless and alone. The thought of spending the rest of my life in this cell was almost too much to bear. But I knew I had to stay strong for myself and for my soulmate, well, if I ever get to meet him anyways. I couldn't let them break me.

As the cell door slammed shut, I collapsed onto the bed, my body trembling with fear and exhaustion. The reality of my situation had finally hit me: I was trapped, alone and helpless, in this hellhole of a prison, facing an unknown and terrifying fate.

But then, out of nowhere, a soft voice spoke to me, breaking through my despair. "Are you okay?" it asked, and I looked up to see a handsome guard standing in front of me, concern etched on his face.

I hesitated for a moment, unsure whether to trust him or not. But something in his eyes made me feel like he was genuinely trying to help me, so I decided to take a chance and speak my mind.

"No, I'm not okay," I replied, my voice barely above a whisper. "I don't belong here, I didn't do anything wrong. They're all lying, they're framing me."

The guard nodded sympathetically. "I believe you," he said, and I felt a flicker of hope in my heart. Maybe he was the one person who could help me, who could prove my innocence and set me free.

"What's your name?" I asked, trying to establish a connection with him.

"Liam," he said with a smile. "And yours?"

"Kayla," I replied, feeling a bit more at ease now that we were talking like normal human beings.

"Nice to meet you, Kayla," Liam said, and I couldn't help but notice how genuine his smile was. "Is there anything I can do for you right now?"

I thought about it for a moment, then nodded. "Could you... could you just stay here with me for a little while? I don't want to be alone."

Liam nodded, and took a seat on the bed next to me. For a few moments, we sat in silence, just looking at each other. Then he spoke again.

"I know this is a difficult situation, Kayla. But you're strong, I can tell. And you're not alone, not really. You have friends and family who care about you, who want to see you get through this."

I nodded, feeling a bit of comfort in his words. Maybe he was right. Maybe I wasn't as alone as I thought.

"I don't have anyone anymore but thank you, Liam... ," I said, looking at him with gratitude. "I really appreciate you being here with me."