The days after my kiddnaping blured into a continuous nightmare. Sleep never came, the cold binds of reality keeping me awake. Bound to live through my torturus existence and not escape into the peacefull bounds of unconsciousness. Acheron—the man who took me—never stopped talking about my power. Some great, untapped force buried inside me, waiting to be controlled. By him. I didn't understand, didn't believe him, but when fire ignited from his fingertips, his sinister gaze, illuminated by the dancing of the flame, I felt something deeper than fear. A terrible, undeniable curiosity. This whole other world existed alongside the world I grew to know. Now I'm unsure of what possibilities lie in wait. Did my mom know? Is that why she constantly warned me of the dangers in this world? I had so many questions and no one to answer them. I looked across the room staring at the man I was expected to share a bed with. Surprisingly not in a way that crossed boundries, simply so that I was within reach. Though, there would be nowhere I could run to, no escape. I am bound to the room by a thick, heavy metal chain. When I am allowed a small freedom, it is under the watchfull eye of Acheron or his brother Sylvin. The freedom from the chain is small, the only place I go is to Dr. Luna. She is a phsycotic lady that is just as obsessed with my power as Acheron is. I didn't know how many days had passed since my kidnapping. Time had lost meaning. All I knew was that every morning, I woke up only to be dragged back to that sterile, suffocating room. Strapped down. Drugged. Tested. Forced into wierd magic rituals. I huff in frustration, my gaze lingering on the chain that confined me. I rubbed inbetween the cuff at the raw aching skin on my ankle, wincing slightly at the pain. I lean back against the doors of the balcony. I lifted my head up slightly, pressing against the glass. My gaze stopping at the night sky. The stars twinkled just slightly, mocking me with their freedom. I narrow my eyes, I needed to get out. I needed to go home. I just got my mom back, and now I was the one that was unable to go home. The night sky bled into day as the hours passed. Bright hues of gold, orange and pink painted the sky. Suddenly a low grunt, and slight russtle of sheets dragged my attention away. My head snapped in his direction. I watched as he slowly rose into a sitting postion. He rubbed his eyes and scanned the room, no doubt looking for me. A hint of worry and fear flashing across his icy blue eyes. His gaze fell on me and just as quickly as the emotions appeared they vanished, replaced with an emotionless mask. He paid no attention to me as he pushed himself from the bed and walked over to the bathroom, shutting the door behind him. I sat in silence for a moment before a light knock sounded at the door. Before anyone could answer, the door creeked open and Sylvin walked in. His eyes met mine and he walked over holding the key to my chain in his hand. He knelt beside me and unlocked the cuff. He eyed me, keeping his gaze locked onto me. Watching my every move. "Let's go." He muttered grabbing wrist forcefully. He dragged me along the hallways in the familer path to Luna's Lab. Once we reached the doors, I thrust my bare feet against the tiled floor, a sudden fear and spark of resistance rising in my chest. Sylvin stopped and turned to face me. "I don't know why you wait for now to resist." He yanks my hand, forcing me closer to him. His breath, hot and minty, fanned my face as he spoke. "It is useless though. You won't win." He smirked, turning back around and pulling me into the lab. He walks me to a table, forcefully laying me down. Luna walks over and takes the straps in her hands securing them to me. Pinning me against the cold metal of the table. I look around franticaly as I struggle to free myself. Multiple cloaked people filed into the room, spreading around me. The air felt suffocating, thick with an unknown force. Luna smiles sickiningly as she looks down at me. She strokes my hair, admiring me like some possession. "Soon dear. I will have unlocked you." She murmurs. Luna turned her head sharply and gave a small nod to the cloaked figures. The chanting began. Their words pulsed through the air, pressing into my skull. The sound was loud, deep, vibrating through my bones. Then—agony. A searing bolt of fire tore through my body, so sudden and overwhelming that my scream shattered into a ragged, breathless choke. My spine arched off the table as if something had hooked into my ribs and was ripping me apart from the inside. It didn't stop. It got worse. The heat turned to liquid ice, shooting through my veins, flooding my limbs with unbearable pressure. My skin felt like it was about to split. I thrashed, the leather straps digging into my wrists, burning against my skin—but the pain inside me made everything else disappear. I tried to beg. Please, stop, stop— but my lips wouldn't move. I couldn't breathe. It wasn't just fire anymore. It was drowning. Something thick and suffocating filled my lungs, clogging my throat with molten lava. I gasped, but no air came—only the unbearable sensation of being burned alive from the inside out. Tears streamed down my face, but I couldn't feel them. I couldn't feel anything except the pain. I don't know how long it lasted. An eternity. Long enough for my body to forget what life was before this. Then—suddenly, violently—it stopped. The absence of pain was so sharp, so jarring, that for a moment, I wasn't sure if I was still alive. The room was deathly silent. My ears rang violently, pulsing with the eerie quite of the room. I tried to blink, but my vision wasn't working right. The world flickered, hazy shapes shifting in and out of focus. Luna was speaking, but her voice was a distant, garbled murmur—like I was underwater, sinking deeper. She glanced at a book in her hands, then at the cloaked figures. Anger twisted her features. The figures lifted their hands again, their mouths all moved in sync, but they were all silent. Then it began again. No, no, please— A new pain blossomed. Not everywhere this time—just one place. My chest. No—deeper. A sharp, unbearable throbbing, as if something inside me had been forcibly wrenched open. My heart? No. Something else. Something worse. It beat too fast. Too erratic. A foreign, unnatural rhythm. The world spun violently, my body no longer fully conscious. My limbs felt weightless, distant—floating while my mind crumbled. The pain spiked—one final, blinding explosion.
Then—blackness.
A few hours later
I awoke a while later, my head throbbing. I tried to reach for my head but I was unable to. I opened my eyes to see the room around me empty, dark. I was alone. I lifted my head scanning my surroundings. My gaze fell to the leather straps around my wrists. I pressed my fingers together making them as small as possible and pulled against the strap. Nothing, of course, I wouldn't be able to get out. That's probably why they left me here. I tried again and again pulling and yanking my hand against the thick leather. I panted as I struggled against the restraints. Come on — come on. One more time. Then a loud sickining crack. I heard it before I even registered the pain. Then it hit—white-hot, burning through my wrist like fire. A short gasp escaped me as nausea flooded my stomach. I clenched my teeth, the agony radiating up my arm in unbearable waves. It was dislocated. I cradled my wrist to my chest, forcing my good hand to fumble with the last clasp. My vision swam, but finally—the buckle released. I exhaled sharply, shoving down the dizzying pain. I was free. I wasted no time and rushed up to the doors peering out into the hallway. Empty, I guessed maybe it was night time. I didn't care though, I was close to being free. I found my way out of the lab and carefully crept up the stairs. I peered out the window, I was right, the sky was shrouded in darkness. I clung to the walls and soon I found a door that led outside. I opened it slowly, cautiously looking aroundI slipped out into what appeared to be a back garden, the air crisp and thick with the scent of damp earth and flowers. Small lanterns lined a stone walkway, their flickering glow casting jagged shadows against the hedges. I didn't stop to admire them. I couldn't. A low, guttural growl shattered the quiet. Then—a bark. Another. A chorus of furious howls erupted behind me, the sound sharp, hungry. Fear lurched into me, consuming me whole. I swallowed hard, my pulse hammering as I bolted down the path, my bare feet slapping against the cold stone. The barking grew louder—closer. They were coming. I barely saw the pond as I passed it, my vision tunneled on the iron fence looming ahead. My only chance. Run. Run. Run. The snapping of jaws sent adrenaline surging through my veins as I scrambled up the fence, clawing for the top. The iron was cold, biting into my fingers as I hoisted myself higher—higher— the throbbing in my wrist worsened as I climbed. Just keep going. I threw my leg over the the top then— SHNK.
A sharp whistle cut the air.
Something cold and deadly brushed past my thigh, so closely that my breath hitched. I froze. My fingers trembled against the metal as I turned my head, dread pooling in my stomach. A jagged spike of pure ice had ricochetd off the fence falling to the grass below. I gasped, whipping my head around— Sylvin. He stood just fifteen feet away, his posture calm, measured. Unshaken. The dogs were at his side, snarling, thick saliva dripping from their mouths. Suddenly my vision swam as I remembered the night from a few months ago. Those dogs had the same hungry look as that wolf. I looked down at the bracelet Dr. Robinson gave me. I counted, trying to breathe but they came short and ragged. Sylvin's hand was still raised, fingers curled, frost glittering at his fingertips, he slowly stalked closer, watching me. "Come here, Audra," he said smoothly. His voice was low, menacing—a quiet promise of danger. My breath caught in my throat. I could see it in his expression—he wasn't bluffing. I shifted slightly my balance on the fence slipping.
SHNK.
Another ice spike. I barely had time to react before it sliced through the air, narrowly missing my shoulder. I let out a startled cry as my balance wavered again. My foot slipped.
I fell.
The world tilted violently, a rush of cold wind whipping against my skin as I crashed onto the other side of the fence. Pain jolted through my body, but I didn't have time to register it. "Wrong answer, sweetheart." I barely had time to lift my head before the next spike shot through the bars—
And lodged into my clothing. The fabric jerked tight, pinning me in place.
No.
No, no, no.
I thrashed wildly, my hands clawing at the frozen spike, but it was solid, unyielding. Tears burned my eyes as Sylvin leapt over the fence with effortless grace, landing in a crouch just feet away. He was on me in seconds. I kicked, fought, struggled—but it didn't matter. His grip latched onto my wrist. I cried out from the pain but his grip was tight. "Let me go!" My voice was raw, desperate. His hazel eyes flickered.
Anger.
Regret.
Then—nothing.
He yanked me upright, his grip like iron. My wrist screamed in protest, sharp pain lancing up my arm, but he didn't let go. I dug my heels into the dirt, resisting his pull. He sighed loudly, clearly annoyed—as if I were an inconvenience, not a person. Then, suddenly—he threw me over his shoulder. I gasped, thrashing. "You will never see the light of day again if you fight me." His voice was sharper now, edged with finality. I gulped, my body going limp against his hold.
Never see daylight?
A horrible chill settled into my bones. I hung lifelessly as he carried me back. I hung limp as we climbed the stairs. I sobbed as we reached the threshold to that room. The heavy door slammed shut behind us, sealing my fate. He tossed me onto the bed, securing the chain around my ankle with a final, heavy click. I didn't move. "You're lucky Acheron isn't here," he muttered darkly. "It would have ended much worse for you." His tone was menacing—but not as sharp as before. I crept off the bed, settling myself near the balcony doors, my body still trembling from the chase. Sylvin exhaled sharply, rubbing his temple as if contemplating something. Then, finally, he said, "How about we keep this outing a secret, then?" I hesitated, then gave a small, defeated nod. "I'll have Luna look at your wrist tomorrow." He didn't wait for a response. He just left, locking the door behind him. Only then did I let myself breathe. Now that the adrenaline had worn off, I could feel it—the pulsing pain in my wrist, the unsettling looseness in the joint. It didn't feel connected anymore. I sighed, a hollow sound that barely escaped my lips. I was trapped. Tonight had made that excruciatingly clear. I could run. I could fight. I could break my own bones trying to be free. But in the end—he would always find me.