The Wisteria Accond

Chapter Sixteen

I've always been good at watching. Observing. That's how I stayed alive all these years—never charging into things without a plan. And now, that skill is the only thing keeping Ash alive. I slip through the halls of the compound like a ghost, my eyes scanning every guard's placement, every shift change. I note the ones who look tired, the ones who seem bored. The ones who might look away at the right moment if I need them to.

It's been a week since Soren nearly cornered me. A week of pretending I'm unaffected. A week of dodging his overbearing presence and the cold calculating way his eyes track my every move. Every time I look at him, I see the darkness lurking beneath his surface, a dangerous void that seems to consume everything good within him.

But I can't afford to think about that now. I have to focus. Ashen's life depends on it.

Dana and Clara have been keeping an eye out for me, running interference whenever Soren gets too close. They don't know everything—I haven't dared tell them the full truth about what I'm planning—but they're smart enough to know I'm up to something. And they're loyal enough not to ask questions. I'm grateful for that.

I've stolen three keys so far. Two were duds—probably planted by Soren to catch me in the act. But the third... the third has potential. I swipe it out of my pocket and run my fingers over its cold metal edges. I've studied it enough times to know that it fits the door to Ashen's cell. I just need to get past the guards and inside without anyone noticing.

"Hey, Kiera, you coming?" Dana calls, poking her head around the corner. I tuck the key away and nod, forcing a smile.

"Yeah, just coming," I say, falling in step beside her. My stomach is twisted in knots, and my heart is racing. I've got to get my head in the game. If Soren senses anything off about me today, he'll rip my plan apart before it even starts.

We make our way to the guardroom where our assignments for the day are posted. My heart leaps when I see my name next to Ashen's cell. Finally. The stars have aligned, and today is my chance.

"You okay?" Dana asks, noticing the tension in my shoulders. I nod, but she keeps watching me with those sharp eyes. "You seem... distracted."

"I'm fine. Just tired." I give her a tight smile, hoping she'll buy it. She doesn't look convinced but drops it anyway. "Catch you later," I say, heading off before she can ask more.

I take a deep breath and steady myself before entering the dark, damp corridor that leads to Ashen's cell. I hear the faint echoes of the guards' footsteps ahead. I've timed this carefully—they should be changing shifts soon. As I round the corner, I see the two guards posted there exchange a few grumbles before heading off. For a brief moment, the hallway is empty.

It's now or never.

I slip the key into the lock, my hands steady despite the racing of my heart. It turns with a quiet click, and I'm inside. Ashen is sitting against the far wall, his head down, his dark hair falling over his bruised face. My heart clenches at the sight. His wrists are still bound in those iron handcuffs, chafed raw and bleeding.

He looks up as I enter, and for a moment, something soft flickers in his eyes. Relief? Hope? Whatever it is, it's quickly masked by that impenetrable calm he always wears like armor. But I've learned to see beyond that. Learned to recognize the subtle changes in his expression, the way his jaw tenses when he's in pain, or the way his eyes soften just a fraction when he's trying to reassure me.

"Kiera," he says, his voice hoarse. He hasn't been given enough water—another way for Soren to break him. "You shouldn't be here."

I close the door behind me and lean against it, my breath coming fast. "I had to see you. I have a plan."