Emma's breath caught in her throat as his words hit in her mind. His cold and firm grip was giving her a chilling reminder of the distance that now lay between them. The man before her was not the ounce of the man she had once known. He was the reflection of someone she used to know—a twisted version of the gentle soul she had cared for so deeply.
"I understand," Emma said softly, meeting his gaze. Her eyes were filled with the lingering sadness of what had been lost. "I know you have changed. But I believe there's still a part of you that remembers who you were. And I'll do whatever it takes to help you find that part again."
He released her arm and stepped back, his expression unreadable. "You don't understand anything," then he growls, "But you will. Soon enough, you will see the world through my eyes, and then you will understand why I became what I am."
Emma controlled her urge to argue because she knew that now was not the time. She needed to learn more about what had happened in her absence, to understand what shaped him into the man before her. For now, she would have to bide her time and wait for the right moment to reach out to him.
"Take her back to her cell," he commanded, and instantly the guards reappeared at his side, ready to carry out his orders.
As they led her away, Emma stole one last glance at him, hoping to see a flicker of the man she remembered. But his face kept wearing a mask of cold, his expression remained indifferent with cold eyes.
Back in her cell, hugging her knees to her chest, she sat down on the cold stone floor. She felt lost and helpless, but there was much she could do. But there had to be a way to reach him, to remind him of the bond they had shared. She wondered.
But where to start?
Her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of a faint, metallic clink from outside her cell. She looked up to see a figure approaching through the shadows, moving swiftly and silently.
"Who's there?" Emma asked, rising to her feet.
The figure stepped into the light, revealing a young woman. It was Lyra, the High Sorceress who had visited her earlier. Her dark hair and green eyes were shining even in this dim light.
"You are lucky, you know," Lyra said in a soft whisper as she approached the bars of Emma's cell. "Most people who cross the Dark Lord don't get a second chance. You must be very important to him."
These were not words but rays of hope for Emma. "Please," she said, stepping closer to the bar, thinking maybe Lyra could help her, "I need to know what happened here. How did he become this way?"
Lyra gave her a thoughtful look for a moment, "Why should I tell you anything?" she asked. "You are just a prisoner here, like the rest of us."
"I am not like the rest of you," Emma replied in her steady voice. "I care about him. I want to help him, but I can't do that unless I know what happened."
"He changed when you left," she said after a moment. "He thought you had abandoned him, and became frantic in finding you and this consumed him. At first, he searched everywhere, hoping you would return. But as time went on, he grew more and more desperate. He started to believe that you had betrayed him, that you had left him behind on purpose." She explained.
Emma felt someone had punched her in the heart. "I never wanted to leave him," There was a helplessness in her voice. "I didn't have a choice. I was pulled back to my world."
Lyra nodded. "Even if it's true, he didn't know that. All he knew was that you were gone, and he was alone. The pain of your loss drove him to darkness. He began to see enemies everywhere, even among his friends. He pushed everyone away, convinced they were all plotting against him. And in the end, he became exactly what he had always feared, a villain, consumed by his need for power and control."
Emma listened with patience but every word of Lyra was filling her heart with guilt. "Is there any way to reach him?" she asked softly, "To remind him of who he used to be?"
Lyra hesitated, then shook her head, "I don't know," she shrugged off some thoughts and said, "He's changed so much. But if anyone can reach him, it's you. You were the only one he ever trusted, the only one he ever loved. Maybe, if you can find a way to show him that you still care, he might listen."
Emma nodded, this was the first glimmer of hope she got after a while. "Thank you," she said, her voice filled with gratitude. "I won't give up on him. I promise."
Lyra gave her a small, sad smile. "I hope you are right," she said quietly. "For all our sake."
Then she turned and disappeared back into the shadows, and once again Emma was alone in her cell with her thoughts.
Emma took a deep breath, her mind was racing with everything she had learned. She knew whatever the future held, the road was going to be hard; yet she was determined to find her way to him one way or another. She just had to. For his sake, and for the sake of the world they once shared.
She sat on the cold stone floor and made a silent vow to herself: not to rest until she found a way of breaking through the veil that had swallowed him up. Whatever it would take, she would bring him back to the light.
Emma closed her eyes and allowed herself to rest, she knew she would need all her strength for the battle ahead.