The Boy from the Bunker - Season 8

Episode Three, Part 3:

A/N: This chapter includes themes of self-injury and suicidal thoughts. Please do not read this chapter if you feel vulnerable or susceptible to these issues and if you do continue, please read with caution. There will be some links in the comments (at the bottom of the page) for resources if you or a loved one are struggling with the adversities highlighted in this chapter.

Episode Three, Part 3:
Fragile

You are a weapon and weapons don't weep. 

The other guards all followed orders, grabbing onto Sol, Dreea and Quill and attempting to drag them back to their cells, but they all put up a fight, refusing to go anywhere without Elara.

"We're not going to cause any trouble!" Sol yelled. "We'll be compliant if she comes with us!"

"You don't get to make the rules," the guard that was holding her announced, being more forceful with her, but Sol had, had enough. She wormed her way out of his hold, using her elbows to slam into his sides, knocking him down and hurrying to help Quill and Dreea free.

"Weapons out!" The guard on the floor roared, quickly recovering to his feet and pulling out his gun, wasting no time in aiming it at Sol.

"Hold your fire!" Ammon yelled, moving in between the guard and the Sovereigns, one hand up to either of them.

He moved over, grabbing onto Sol as she had stopped her fighting after noticing the gun, and instructed his guard to retreat his weapon.

"I said take them back to their cells," Ammon lowered his voice. "Nothing else."

"You've been a Level 2 Guard for all of one day and already, you think you're the boss of us," the guard shook his head, bitterly taking possession of Sol and holding her firmly in front of him.

"That's because I am," Ammon growled, making it known to the guard that he had heard exactly what he had said.

He moved over to Dreea and held her still until her guard had control of her, seeing that Quill was already contained without the need for him to interfere.

"Now, do your job and make sure the three of them are returned to their cells, or I'll report you to Athena-"

"No one is going anywhere until I'm taken to my family," Elara interrupted, drawing everyone back to the fact that she was standing there with a blade and wouldn't hesitate to use it on anyone.

"You wanna play that game?" One of the guards asked, eagerly challenging her. They drew out their own blade from their side, pulling Dreea further against them and holding the weapon against her neck. "You make the call," they smirked.

"Weapon. Down," Ammon demanded - the mask failing to disguise the rage in his voice as he spoke to one of his inferiors.

Elara watched on, unable to predict how the situation would unfold, feeling tears freely escape her and run down her cheeks. If she hurt them, they'd hurt her family... How could she win? How could she allow the others to return to their cells unharmed and get answers to Wynn and Chessca's whereabouts?

She swallowed a deep breath, waiting until Ammon and the other guards turned their attention back to her before she acted.

She twisted the weapon in her hands until the blade was facing her stomach, poking ever-so-slightly into her shirt. For whatever reason, Elara felt as though Neptunum would prefer their prisoners alive and wondered if the potential sacrifice of herself would be enough of an ultimatum for them to take her to Wynn and Izzy and everyone else she was missing.