The man standing before him—an impeccably dressed man with a kind face, strikingly beautiful features, and a voice as calm as a serene lake.
JACK:
Where am I?
The man's eyes, though soft, carried an undeniable weight.
KIND MAN:
You're in the prison.
Jack's heart raced as panic surged through him.
JACK:
But I was supposed to be with my wife! Where is she?
The man's calm demeanor remained unshaken.
KIND MAN:
I don't know. Now calm down and put this on. Come with me.
The man handed Jack a simple, dark tunic. Despite his growing fear and confusion, Jack found himself unable to resist the man's soothing voice. He donned the garment and followed the man through the winding corridors of the dark palace.
As they approached the grand hall, Jack's anxiety grew. He could hear the faint, unsettling echoes of distant conversations, growing louder with each step. The man finally led him to the towering doors of the throne room.
The grand hall was as imposing as ever, with the throne figure, the throne man seated upon his sinister chair of skulls. The throne hall was dimly lit by flickering torches, casting long shadows that danced across the walls.
The kind man, bowed deeply before the throne.
The kind man:
My great Lord Igris, I bring him to you as you commanded.
Igris's gaze swept over Jack with a cold, detached curiosity.
IGRIS:
Excellent work, Vermeil. Now, teach him the tasks I have set before him. You are in command.
Jack's heart sank as the reality of his situation began to set in. His voice trembled with desperation.
JACK:
What are you saying? I don't understand.
The figure from the left, who had previously spoken, stepped forward with an air of detached authority.
LEFT FIGURE:
Don't you understand? From now on, you are the slave of the great Lord Igris. You will serve here and perform the duties assigned to you.
Jack's eyes widened in shock.
JACK:
But you promised me… you promised me you would reunite me with my wife!
Igris's expression remained impassive, his voice chillingly calm.
IGRIS:
And where exactly did I make such a promise? I offered you a chance, and this is it.
Jack's despair turned into fury. He clenched his fists, his voice breaking as he shouted.
JACK:
You liar! I won't forgive you!
Before he could react further, palace soldiers burst into the room, their presence imposing and intimidating. They seized Jack, their grips unyielding and strong. Despite his resistance, they overpowered him and began dragging him back towards the prison.
Jack's cries of outrage and betrayal echoed through the corridors as he was pulled away.
JACK:
I will never forgive you! You can't do this!
The soldiers forced him into the cold, dark cell once more. Jack slumped to the floor, defeated and broken. His dreams of reuniting with Hana lay shattered, replaced by the cold reality of his new existence. As the heavy cell door clanged shut behind him, the silence of his confinement was a cruel reminder of his plight.
In the dark, Jack sat alone, his thoughts a storm of confusion and anger. The promise of escape, the hope of reuniting with Hana, now seemed like a cruel illusion. His world had narrowed to the bleak confines of the prison, and the future was as dark and uncertain as the void that had brought him here.