---
The shadows of Diasomnia hung heavy over the forest, its towering spires like silent sentinels guarding the secrets within. Inside, Y/N sat curled on the floor of their lavishly appointed prison, their hollow eyes staring at the moonlight streaming through the window. Every breath felt like a weight pressing down on their chest, suffocating and inescapable.
They had long since stopped fighting. Resistance was useless. Their captors—no, their keepers—had broken them piece by piece, until the will to escape was nothing more than a distant memory.
And yet, when they saw the faint glow of a flashlight bobbing through the trees, something deep within them stirred.
---
The sound of voices reached Y/N's ears, muffled but familiar. They staggered to their feet and stumbled to the window, pressing their hands against the cold glass.
Through the thick forest, three figures approached the gates of Diasomnia. The faint light revealed faces Y/N knew too well: Ace, Deuce, and Grim.
"Guys..." Y/N's cracked voice barely escaped their lips. Their fingers trembled against the windowpane.
Ace's voice echoed faintly through the night, sharp and determined. "I'm telling you, they have to be here! This is the last place anyone saw them before they vanished!"
Deuce followed closely behind, gripping the lantern. "Do you think they're okay? They wouldn't just leave us like this."
Grim's tail twitched furiously. "I told you something bad happened! Y/N wouldn't ditch me! I'm their best friend, and they know it!"
At the sound of their voices, Y/N felt something snap inside. Tears welled up in their eyes as their fists pounded weakly against the glass. "Go back," they whispered, voice trembling. "Don't come here. It's not safe."
But their friends couldn't hear them.
---
The gates of Diasomnia groaned open, revealing the four members of the dorm. Malleus stood tall at the center, his aura exuding menace, while Lilia's ever-present grin seemed sharper than usual. Sebek, with his hand already on the hilt of his blade, glared at the intruders with unbridled hostility. Silver lingered at the edge of the group, his expression a mix of unease and resignation.
Ace took a step forward, his fists clenched. "We're looking for Y/N. Have you seen them?"
Malleus tilted his head, his glowing eyes narrowing. "What makes you think they are here?"
"Cut the crap!" Ace snapped, his voice echoing through the cold air. "We know they're here. Just give them back, and we'll leave."
"Give them back?" Lilia's voice was laced with amusement, though his eyes glinted with something darker. "You speak as if they are yours to take."
Deuce stepped forward, his jaw tight. "We're not leaving without them. If you've done anything to hurt them—"
Sebek's voice thundered, drowning out the rest of Deuce's words. "How dare you insinuate such nonsense about Lord Malleus! Y/N is exactly where they belong!"
"They belong with us!" Grim hissed, his fur bristling.
Malleus raised a hand, silencing Sebek with a glance. He stepped closer to the gates, his emerald eyes glowing brighter. "Your persistence is admirable but misplaced. Y/N is under my protection. You should leave before you regret staying."
"They don't need your 'protection'!" Ace shouted, his voice shaking with anger.
From above, Y/N watched the exchange with growing dread. Their chest tightened, their breath coming in short, ragged gasps. "Please," they whispered, their fingers clawing at the window. "Don't do this."
