Hidden truths (bl)

chapter 18: confrontation with the siren

Chapter 18: Confrontation with the Siren

The heavy door groaned open, revealing a tall, slender man chained to the wall. His gaunt frame belied a strength hidden beneath the layers of iron that bound him, and his piercing, heterochromatic eyes glimmered with an intensity that sent shivers down the spines of the four companions. Max, sensing danger lurking within the dimly lit chamber, moved to caution his friends, but his words were drowned out by their eager anticipation to free the enigmatic prisoner.

Branden, Antonio, and Enzo, their faces alight with curiosity, hurried forward to release the man from his shackles. Max's attempts to warn them of the potential peril fell on deaf ears as his companions' enthusiasm clouded their judgment. With the man now unbound, the companions regarded him with a mix of apprehension and intrigue. Branden greeted him with a warm smile, Enzo waved eagerly, and Antonio offered a tentative nod. Max, feeling compelled to acknowledge the stranger, extended his hand in greeting, only to be met with a disdainful sneer.

"You don't get to touch me, you lowly peasant," the man spat, his voice dripping with contempt. Max withdrew his hand, unfazed by the insult. "Then may I ask your name?" he inquired calmly. The man, identified as Bernard, regarded him with cold indifference before responding curtly. "Nice to meet you, Bernard. My name is Max. I would appreciate it if you showed some respect when addressing me or my friends," Max asserted firmly.

Bernard's sneer deepened, but instead of engaging further, he turned his attention to Branden and Enzo, the smaller members of the group. With a smug expression, he posed a question, "Who do you prefer, your two companions over there or me?" Max rolled his eyes, anticipating their loyalty to their friends. "You," they replied in unison, their responses almost mechanical. Suddenly, Antonio, who had remained silent, succumbed to a sudden drowsiness, muttering about a siren before falling into a deep slumber.

Alarmed, Max rushed to Antonio's side, only to find himself met with a perplexing sight—a smiling Branden. "Branden, snap out of it!" Max exclaimed, but his words seemed to have no effect. Resigned to the situation, Max made a split-second decision and delivered a swift punch to Branden's stomach, knocking him unconscious. As he tended to Branden, Enzo, consumed by a trance, launched into a frenzied attack on Max.

Dodging Enzo's blows, Max managed to incapacitate him and lay him down beside Branden. Bernard, consumed by rage and fear, backed away, his mind racing for an escape plan. Max confronted him, demanding answers to his motives and deception. "Why didn't you simply ask for our help instead of resorting to deceit? Why didn't you attempt to brainwash me as well?" Max interrogated him, his tone laced with frustration.

The siren, defeated and resigned, admitted, "I couldn't brainwash you. You're of a higher species." Max, seizing the opportunity, restrained Bernard once more, securing him with chains. As Antonio stirred awake, Max pointed to the chained siren, expressing his frustration at Antonio's delayed awakening. "Sorry, man," Antonio muttered, surveying the scene with a mix of confusion and remorse.

Their attention then turned to a colossal door, adorned with opulent gold handles and precious gems. Enzo, now fully awake, marvelled at the door's grandeur, noting its exorbitant value. In a playful gesture, he flew past the door, delivering a playful punch to Max's head. With the door to their freedom beckoning, and Branden stirring awake, the companions faced a pivotal moment. The question lingered in the air, hanging like a shroud—what awaited them on the other side?