After what seemed like an eternity, Asher found himself hanging from his handcuffed hands, his battered body dripping blood onto the floor below. The room was dimly lit, and a woman with a deep scar on her face stood before him. She introduced herself as Mara, her eyes gleaming with malice and cruelty.
Her voice dripped with venom as she interrogated Asher, her questions filled with sinister intent. "Where did you come from?" she demanded, her voice laced with malice. "What floor are you from?"
Despite his pain, Asher maintained a calm composure and refused to answer Mara's questions. He knew instinctively that revealing any information about himself or the 35th floor would only put him in greater danger. His body, though accustomed to pain, was growing weaker with each passing moment.
Frustration etched itself onto Mara's face as she circled Asher, her eyes scanning his battered form. "Tell me where the Vitaforce Elixir is!" she spat a mix of anger and desperation in her voice.
Asher, with gritted teeth, mustered the strength to speak. His voice was strained, yet defiant. "I won't tell you anything," he managed to utter, his words echoing in the room.
A confident smile crept across Mara's face. "We'll see about that," she hissed, raising her hand to strike Asher with brutal force.
The blow landed across Asher's face, intensifying the waves of pain surging through his battered body. The hours blurred into an agonizing blur of torture and relentless questioning, but Asher endured each assault with unwavering spirit. Though his body screamed in protest, his mind held firm.
Mara's frustration grew, and she eventually stormed out of the room, leaving Asher alone in his dreadful state. Hanging from his handcuffed hands, his body battered and bloodied, Asher heard a familiar voice pierce through the silence.
"I'm gone for only a few days, and this is what I come back to."
Startled, Asher turned toward the voice to find Shadow standing there, his face filled with coldness and a hint of anger.
Relief washed over Asher's exhausted eyes as he recognized Shadow. "Shadow!... You're here," he managed to say, his voice weak and strained. "I-I'm on the 29th floor..."
Interrupting him, Shadow's voice was firm yet compassionate. "I already know. I've been watching. But now, it's time for us to take action."
Confusion and pain clouded Asher's mind, but the urgency in Shadow's words couldn't be ignored. "What do you mean?" he asked, his voice laced with uncertainty.
Leaning closer, Shadow's voice barely above a whisper, he said, "Give me control. Let me deal with these women. They won't show mercy, and neither should we."
Asher's eyes widened in disbelief. He had witnessed the women's brutality firsthand, but he couldn't embrace such violence. "But... the guns they have. How can we fight against that?" he questioned.
Shadow's expression hardened as he responded, "I have a plan. We can defeat them, but we must act swiftly."
Conflicting thoughts swirled in Asher's mind, torn between the desire for revenge and his belief in compassion. Hesitating, his voice faltered. "I... I don't want to kill them. They're survivors, just like me. They are doing this out of their own fears, trying to protect themselves."
Shadow's gaze remained cold as ever as he replied, "You're right, they are trying to protect themselves, but remember what they did to you. They won't stop until they find what they're looking for, and we must protect ourselves as well, no matter the cost."
----
Mara, her face still seething with frustration, returned to the room where the rest of the women had gathered. Among them stood their leader, Serena, who had recently returned from her mission on the 26th floor. Serena commanded respect with her presence, and her piercing gaze seemed to penetrate the very souls of those around her.
As Mara approached, she greeted Serena with a forced smile. "Serena, you're back," Mara said, her tone laced with anticipation. "Any good news?"
Serena sighed, her voice filled with disappointment. "Unfortunately, no. The monster still holds the ID card we need. It's as if it knows it's important for us. We have no choice but to fight it," she said, frustration evident in her voice.
The other women fell into silence, the air growing heavy with fear and desperation.
Breaking the silence, Serena changed the subject. "I heard you were talking to the captive. What did he say, Mara?"
Mara took a deep breath, recounting the events of Asher's interrogation. She described his resilience and refusal to disclose any information about himself or the Vitaforce Elixir. The women listened intently, their expressions shifting between curiosity and frustration.
When Mara finished her report, Serena fell silent, her gaze distant as she contemplated the information. Then, with a determined glint in her eyes, she spoke, her voice commanding attention.
"So, he says that he lost his memories" Serena declared. "take me to him I want to meet him"
The other women exchanged glances, silently acknowledging Serena's command. With a sense of purpose, they made their way toward Asher's location, their footsteps echoing through the dimly lit corridors.
As the women entered the room, Asher's battered body came into view. His face, bruised and bloodied, still bore a defiant expression. The women surrounded him, their eyes filled with a mixture of anger and curiosity. They were prepared to resume their torment, to extract the information they sought by any means necessary.
However, as Serena's gaze fell upon Asher's face, a look of shock and surprise overcame her. In a surprising turn of events, she made a decision that even surprised her. With a commanding voice, she ordered the women to step back.
"Leave us," Serena said, her tone brooking no opposition. The women hesitated their expressions a mix of confusion and disbelief. Yet, they obeyed, slowly backing away and leaving Serena alone with Asher.
Unnoticed by anyone, a flicker of emotion crossed Shadow's cold expression, revealing a complicated blend of feelings.
As the room fell into an uneasy silence, Serena's gaze met Asher's, her eyes scanning his expression carefully.
"Hi, Asher. I was told that your name is Asher. Nice to meet you. My name is Serena," she introduced herself, her voice laced with a mix of authority and curiosity.
Asher, still hanging from his handcuffed hands, mustered a tired smile despite the pain etched across his face. "Nice to meet you too, Serena. Can you tell me what you want from me?" he asked, his voice filled with cautious intrigue.
Serena's expression softened, and she stepped closer to Asher, her voice gentle yet firm. "We are in desperate need of food and Vitaforce Elixir would be greatly beneficial for us in terms of nutrition. That's why Mara was a little harsh with you. I hope you understand," she explained
Asher pondered Serena's words, sensing a flicker of sincerity beneath her hardened exterior. "I understand," he replied cautiously, a hint of curiosity in his voice. "But you don't seem like you want to torture me. So, what do you want from me?"
Serena's lips curled into a half-smile as she considered her response. "I want you to work with us, Asher. Together, we can find a way to escape this place, to reclaim our freedom," she proposed.
"..." Shadow