Chapter 150: Close
I walk down the line of prison cells, my boots crunching against the gravel with each step. The air is thick and stale, a mixture of sweat, blood, and the kind of damp rot that clings to stone walls. Every breath feels heavy, yet I force myself forward, clutching the small, enchanted ring given to me by Duke Remiro. It pulses faintly in my hand, its magic a silent companion, masking my presence from prying eyes and warding off unwanted attention. It’s moments like these where the old Duke’s secretive gift proves its worth.
The torchlight flickers uneasily as I move deeper into the darkness, casting wild shadows that slither along the cell walls. I can feel my anger simmering beneath my skin, threatening to boil over, but I hold it back. Focus. There will be time for rage later. Right now, there’s only the mission, the purpose driving me here.
I reach the end of the corridor, where the air is coldest and reeks the most. The cell before me is nothing more than a cage of misery, the iron bars thick with rust and grime. My heart clenches when I step closer, the sight before me sending a surge of raw fury and sorrow coursing through my veins.
"Ben," I choke out, my voice echoing in the stillness. I don’t recognize the broken man slumped against the wall at first. The chains bite into his gaunt wrists, holding him up more than his own strength can. His frame, once powerful and imposing, is now skeletal, his face sunken, covered in bruises and dried blood. The proud, unyielding giant I knew is gone, replaced by this hollow shell.
"Ben!" I call louder, desperation leaking into my tone as I rush forward. Dropping to my knees on the filthy ground, I reach for him, my hands trembling. His head lolls to the side, and I press my palm to his cheek, cold and clammy. His eyes are barely open, two glazed orbs that struggle to focus on me.
"Come on, Ben," I whisper, swallowing down the lump forming in my throat. I can’t afford to break down now. I tap his face gently, trying to stir him, willing him to recognize me. "Stay with me."
A weak, guttural sound escapes his lips, something that might’ve once been a groan. My heart shatters at the sound, at the frail state of a man who used to be a fortress of strength. Without wasting another moment, I summon my telekinesis, the familiar pull of magic responding to my rage and urgency. The iron chains snap free from their holds, clattering to the floor, and Ben collapses forward, straight into my arms. His body is heavy, even now, though it shouldn’t be. He was never supposed to feel this fragile, this broken.
"Got you," I murmur, my voice rough. I clutch him tightly, supporting his weight, feeling every jagged bone beneath his torn shirt. Roman steps forward from the shadows, his expression as hard and furious as my own. Without a word, he helps me lift Ben, and together, we haul the barely conscious man between us.
We move swiftly, a shared urgency in every step as we leave the hellish prison behind. My jaw clenches, my teeth grinding together.