The moment I stepped out of the cell, everything felt different.
The air was heavier, pressing against my skin in a way that made it hard to ignore. It wasn’t just the place. It was me. Something had changed, and everyone could feel it.
I tightened my hold on Darius as his weight leaned against me. His body was weak, barely holding on, but he was still conscious enough to move. Each step we took was slow, careful, but I refused to stop.
The hallway stretched ahead of us, long and dim, lit only by flickering torches that cast shadows against the stone walls. The silence felt unnatural, like the entire place was holding its breath.
Then a guard saw me.
He froze instantly.
His eyes locked onto mine, and I saw it clearly—hesitation. Not anger. Not aggression. Something else. Something cl
