Chapter 31
From all directions, ominous creaking sounds echoed, and darkness enveloped the space, making it impossible to see anything. However, Liv could still smell the scents of fire and dust. Liv carefully followed Emmett down into the underground prison.
It seemed Emmett had made preparations, as there were no guards keeping watch over the prison. However, there were several locks on the path leading to the prison cells, making it impossible for Hayden to escape by his own power. Using the keys he had obtained from the guards, Emmett unlocked all the locks and finally stopped in front of one cell.
“This is it.”
“Ah...”
Reacting to the stench of blood emanating from inside, Liv instinctively wrinkled her nose.
Inside was Hayden, reduced to a horrific state. His clothes were torn to rags, and blood was flowing from beneath the chair he was tied to. The armrests of the chair were scratched, as if by fingernails, leaving them in tatters. Through the tears in his clothes, Liv could see terrible wounds that looked like burns.
Hayden, his eyes bloodshot from burst blood vessels, raised his head.
“Liv Hamelsvoort.”
“Yes.”
Liv brought her face as close to the cell bars as possible. Accustomed to the gods’ descriptions of punishing those who tormented her, Liv could look Hayden straight in the eye despite his pitiful appearance. Still, the sight of him in such a wretched state left her feeling uneasy.
“Are you okay?”
“Of course I’m okay.”