บท 2: Unraveling Fates
Luna awoke with a start, the chilling touch of wind and the distant clatter of chains piercing the silence. Struggling to focus in the dim lighting, she attempted to piece together her whereabouts. "Where am I?" she murmured, the vastness of the space swallowing her words.
Gradually, the details of the room came into focus: imposing stone walls, iron grates, and the foreboding shadows reminiscent of a forgotten dungeon. Scrambling to recall the events that led her here, her memories initially proved elusive. Yet, they slowly started piecing themselves together: the urgent guard, his hurried demeanor, and the faint, overpowering smell of a cloth.
Cold realization washed over Luna. She'd been deceived, taken, and was now shackled in this ominous cavern. Her voice, shaky yet desperate, filled the silence, "Can anyone hear me? Help!" Her pleas echoed, only to be met by Vael's chilling response, "We're buried deep underground, beneath a subway line. No one will hear you."
Desperation evident in her eyes, Luna pulled fiercely at her restraints. "Why? My father is the governor! When he finds out, you'll pay for this!" Yet, Vael seemed distant, sitting on the stone steps, engrossed in a battle with haunting visions. Those fragments of a past life clung to him, confusing and beckoning. "Those memories... what do they mean?" he pondered, grappling with an enigmatic past.
Earlier, before Luna's resurgence, the air was thick with foreboding. Vael had stood over Luna's still body, the room prepped meticulously for a dark task. Sheets of plastic and refuse bags hinted at a dire intention. In Vael's grip, a knife shimmered menacingly, its blade teasingly close to Luna's throat.
Everything Vael knew, every instinct he had, directed him to finish the assignment. Yet, as the blade inched closer, a deep-seated resistance bubbled forth, anchoring his hand. His pulse thundered, creating a symphony of turmoil. In a resonating clash, the knife dropped, its echo reverberating in the space. Vael, overwhelmed with emotions, withdrew and sat on the steps, attempting to unravel the chaos within.
He grappled with a consequential decision. Failing the guild was not an option; they would demand tangible proof of his actions. But, a mysterious bond to Luna seemed to weave its threads around his conscience, holding him back from the dark path he was about to tread.
Ascending the steps, Vael gently closed the door behind him, momentarily silencing Luna's heart-wrenching pleas. He was certain that in due course, her cries would lessen, giving way to somber resignation. Hours drifted by, discernible only by the elongating shadows above.
Compelled by a fleeting moment of compassion or perhaps a semblance of remorse, Vael gathered a modest meal for Luna. Upon re-entering the dimly lit room, he offered her a water bottle and a simple plate of sustenance. To allow her to eat while ensuring she remained confined, he released her wrists, though her ankles stayed bound. Luna's fierce gaze met his, brimming with defiance. "I refuse to eat this," she proclaimed, tossing the food at him in protest.
For a moment, Vael seemed distant from his surroundings, lost within the puzzling fragments of memories that haunted him. Taking an unexpected step towards vulnerability, he decided to reveal his true self to Luna, shedding the mask that concealed his features. As it came away, a mane of deep black hair framed a face of striking features. When their eyes met, Luna was overcome by an intense familiarity.
Suddenly, she began to shake uncontrollably, succumbing to a fit. Vael, usually so composed, was consumed with alarm. His own encounters with the memories resulted only in mild discomfort, but Luna's experience was distressingly intense. A medical facility was an impossible solution, especially given the ongoing search for Luna. As the convulsions abated, Luna's eyes locked onto Vael's, her voice weak but resonant, "Vael?" Then, darkness claimed her.
Vael was overwhelmed with confusion. Their recognition of each other, the memories they seemed to share – it was all unfathomable. They had never met, at least not in their current lives. Was it conceivable that these memories were echoes from another era, a past existence? Entrapped in these perplexing thoughts, Vael was jolted back to the moment by the abrupt ring of his phone. The caller ID flashed a name that bore significant importance: Mason. The man who had transformed him from a broken soul to the formidable individual he now was.
Summoning his composure, Vael answered, "Hello?"
"Has the mission been accomplished?" Mason's inquiry was sharp and expectant.
Torn inside but outwardly calm, Vael responded, "Yes, it's done."
A pause, then Mason's satisfied voice came through. "Well done. Present the evidence. Once confirmed, your payment will be made." The call ended suddenly. Vael's decision weighed heavily upon him, a sense of dread accompanying the knowledge of the dangerous game he was now playing.
Aware of the imminent danger, he knew they had to vanish. With limited funds, their escape wouldn't be luxurious, but safety was paramount. Acting swiftly, Vael gathered essentials, packing them into a backpack.
Content with his preparation, he headed downstairs to awaken Luna for their departure. However, what met his eyes halted him: the room was devoid of Luna. Alarm surged through him.
Suddenly, an unforeseen force struck him. A powerful blow sent him crashing down the steps. His vision blurred, and agony erupted as his head made contact with the hard ground.
A chilling laughter filled the space. Mason's voice, icy and mocking, resonated, "Rules are there for a reason, Vael. Did you think I'd be fooled by a simple phone call? How naive." Before Vael could process or react, darkness consumed him as another blow rendered him unconscious.
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