The price of freedom

Chapter two

Another year passed, and Riku, Mei, and Hiroshi had hardened in ways they never thought possible. They had grown not just in strength and skills but in resilience, adjusting to the cold reality of their new lives. The dreams of rescue had mostly faded-especially for Riku and Mei. But Hiroshi remained a flicker of light in their lives, refusing to let go of the hope that someday, somehow, they'd escape this place.

Hiroshi's optimism was a rare spark, always keeping the mood from slipping too deep into despair. He'd often bring up memories of their parents, moments from their old lives, or stories of heroes who never gave up, always delivered with a genuine warmth that sometimes even coaxed a smile from Riku and Mei.

One night, after another grueling day of drills, they sat outside, catching their breath beneath a bleak, starless sky.

"We've gotten so strong," Riku murmured, looking down at his bruised knuckles.

"Yeah, but what's the point? It's not like we're ever going to get out of here." Mei's voice was soft, a resignation layered over her usual defiance.

Hiroshi, wiping sweat from his brow, nudged her. "Come on, Mei. We're getting stronger so we can survive. Maybe even escape, someday. We just have to believe in it."

"Hope is... pointless here, Hiroshi," Riku replied, his tone heavy. "Our parents would have come by now if they were going to."

Hiroshi shook his head. "Riku, you don't know that. They're out there somewhere, probably looking for us. And even if they're not... we have each other. We're not alone."

Mei glanced at Hiroshi with a sigh but nodded. "Sometimes you're annoying with that attitude, Hiroshi. But maybe... just maybe, it helps."

The next few months pressed them harder than ever, with Voss unrelenting in his brutal training methods. He took every chance to drive them past their limits, reinforcing that if they couldn't survive his methods, they wouldn't last long outside this place. Voss's philosophy was simple: break them down so they could rebuild themselves stronger. But the cost was high, and there were nights Riku and Mei would fall asleep feeling every ounce of the hopelessness they'd come to accept as normal.

Still, Hiroshi's optimism kept them steady. He'd mastered an inner resilience, a silent strength that kept him from faltering. Hiroshi's unfaltering hope gradually made its way into his combat style-every punch, every block, every leap showed the strength of someone who believed he was fighting for a better future. Even Voss had started to take notice, occasionally smirking in satisfaction when Hiroshi landed an impressive move.

"Hope isn't a weakness," Hiroshi would whisper to himself during training, ignoring the scoffs of other recruits or the skeptical glares from instructors.

In combat drills, he started to push harder, not just for himself but for Riku and Mei. He encouraged Riku to go beyond teleportation, urging him to explore different techniques with his lightning. "Maybe you can extend the charge around you, make your movements faster," he suggested. Riku grinned, appreciating his brother's ideas. They'd both developed a rhythm together, combining their moves and techniques with a rare synergy. Mei, too, had honed her talents, blending speed and agility into a precise, graceful style.

As the days turned into weeks, Riku found himself absorbing more of Hiroshi's words, despite his own hopelessness. Hiroshi's energy somehow softened his own outlook. The training was torture, but for the first time in months, Riku felt the faintest spark of purpose.

One evening, after another exhausting round of sparring, Hiroshi clapped a hand on Riku's shoulder. "You're stronger than you think, you know."

Riku raised an eyebrow. "Yeah? Stronger than you?"