Estan let out a breath as the alpha stood to his feet and let out a curse. "What's the situation?" The alpha inquired of the werewolf.
"He is at the third door."
"The third door?! Why did you let him get so close? Why haven't you killed him yet?!" The alpha roared at the man standing in the doorway.
The werewolf who came bearing the news immediately bowed when he heard the growl in the man's voice. "Please spare me, Alpha! We are currently trying to stop him from advancing further."
"Stop him from- I don't want you to stop him from advancing. I want you to kill him! I can't believe you fools. Bring me to him!" The alpha commanded before storming out of the room. The two werewolves who had accompanied their leader hurriedly followed him into the hallway and shut the door.
Darkness once again engulfed the room as the werewolves took the torches down the corridor.
"Inso, are you alright?" Syri asked as the footsteps faded.
"Mm. I'm fine. What about you?"
"I'm okay."
"What about you, little girl? Are you okay?" Estan asked into the darkness.
Several seconds pass where there was no response. Estan began to assume the girl had passed out when he heard quiet sobs filtering throughout the room. "I want to go home," the girl cried.
Estan's heart broke at the girl's cry. The gamma began to emit calming pheromones in an attempt to comfort the young female. "What's your name?" Estan inquired. His voice was soft and caring.
A few sniffles floated from the front left corner before a small voice sounded, "Rosie."
"Hi, Rosie. I'm Estan," the gamma responded.
"I'm Syri."
"Hi." Rosie's voice was so soft and quiet that Estan and Syri nearly missed it.
"Where are you from, Rosie?" The gamma inquired.
"Alia."
"Alia? Ohh, that's a pretty town. Syri and I were actually on our way to a cabin just outside Alia," Estan replied.
"Inso," Syri interrupted the conversation.
"What is it?" Estan responded.
"They didn't lock the door."
Estan thought back to the leaving of the alphas and laughed when he realized Syri was right. The alphas did not lock the door when they left! "Syri, you're a genius! Only problem now is the chains around our necks."
"Wait a few minutes."
"Huh?"
"The perliph is wearing off."
"Oh. Think you can unlock them?"
"Mm. It's how I escaped Jisue's house."
Estan fell silent at the zeta's answer. He realized just how hard Syri had worked to get free. It must have taken the zeta hours to learn a skill he did not know if he was even capable of doing. He spent endless hours honing a skill off pure hope. Estan's heart for the zeta swelled as he thought of Syri all alone in the basement working his hardest to get free. And here he was, doing everything he could to save Estan.
Small pants could be heard as the zeta began trying to activate his abilities. "Why won't it work?" Syri mumbled under his breath as he attempted to clear the fog in his mind. He could already think better, but it would take few more minutes until the zeta could activate his abilities.
A tear escaped the side of Estan's eye as he said, "You've done well...Syri."
The small pants from the zeta's struggles paused as Syri heard the gamma's soulful statement. Instead, sniffles filtered throughout the room as Syri's heart swelled. A sad smile came to Estan's lips as he heard the zeta cry. Estan could not believe the lengths Syri went to in order to gain his freedom from his own, fated mate.
The room fell silent, and the quiet sniffles stopped as the zeta concentrated. Soon, the clinking of chains falling to the floor sounded in the darkness. Estan remained still as Syri's eyes turned aqua, and Aska woke up. The zeta stood to his feet and walked over to the gamma. Seeing perfectly in the dark, Aska placed his hand on the chain around Estan's neck and unlocked it.
Estan stood to his feet as Aska approached Rosie and unlocked her chain.
"Aska?" Estan asked of the zeta.
The zeta turned to face Estan and held out his hand. Estan took a step back as a flame erupted in the palm of Aska's hand, illuminating the dark room. "Hello, Estan," Aska greeted.
"Y-you can create fire?" Estan inquired with wide eyes.
"It is one of my abilities, yes."
Estan admired the zeta standing before him. He was in the same body as Syri, but he was incredibly different. Aska's voice was the same as Syri's but exasperated and lower. The zeta's eyes were bright in color, but a sad darkness lay hidden beneath the mesmerizing aqua. Aska certainly did not have the care-free demeanor of his human partner. Once could tell he had been through hell. The way Aska carried himself was a stark contrast to the light-footed Syri. His steps were slower and more cautious. Aska remained this way to keep Syri care-free and light-hearted.
Estan's surprise immediately turned to empathy for the wolf. He could see the struggles and years of torment hiding beneath those aqua eyes. "You've worked hard, Aska."
Aska blinked slowly as he accepted the gamma's heart-felt compliment. "I'll continue to work hard, so continue to care for Syri...please."
"Of course." A small smile came to Estan as he looked at the zeta. "Are you why the mark is fading so fast?"
The zeta nodded. "We want it gone as soon as possible." Once a moment of silence had passed, Aska inquired, "Are you still affected by the perliph? Can you link Yejin?"
Estan closed his eyes and concentrated. After a few seconds, the gamma released his breath and shook his head. "No, I cannot link him just yet."
"Then we'll have to rely on Syri to get us out of here." Aska's voice was growing more and more exhausted.
Estan could tell the zeta's window of consciousness was coming to an end, so he quickly said, "I'll make sure both of you stay safe. Rest well, Aska."
Aska nodded in thanks before closing his eyes. When the zeta opened his eyes again, they were the warm brown of Syri's.
"Did Aska come out?" Syri inquired of the gamma when he saw the chains lying on the floor.
"Yes. He is resting now," Estan informed the zeta.
Syri nodded in response to the gamma's reply. "Woah!" Syri's eyes widened as he saw the flame dancing in the palm of his hand. "We can create fire?!"
Estan smiled at the cute zeta and said, "I bet you can do a whole lot more, too."
Syri looked at the gamma with excitement. "You think so?"
Estan nodded before going to the sleeping form on the ground. The gamma knelt next to Rosie and checked on her condition, giving a breath of relief when he felt a pulse.
"How is she?" Syri inquired on the girl.
"She passed out. Most likely from dehydration, trauma, and exhaustion. She'll be alright once we get her out."
"Then, we better get out of here," Syri said, his voice growing serious.
Estan scooped the girl into his arms and stood to his feet as Syri opened the door. After making sure the corridor was empty, the zeta motioned for the gamma to follow him. Estan followed Syri down the hall, the flame in the zeta's hand being the only source of light. Sounds of fighting filtered into the corridor from the floor above followed by an explosion. The walls and ceiling of the corridor shook with the impact.
Syri looked at the cracks forming in the ceiling and turned to the gamma behind him. "We have to get to the ground floor. The basement level is going to collapse!"