The days blurred together as we traveled, each one slipping by like sand through my fingers. Mia and I kept moving, my mind always two steps ahead, never allowing myself to fully stop, to think. The forest we passed through grew thicker, the trees more imposing, their shadows stretching longer as we ventured further from the palace, further from everything.
We kept to the outskirts of the villages, always on the move, never staying in one place for too long. The world outside was vast, untamed, but it felt more real than the shattered remnants of the life we'd left behind. Still, the emptiness in me only grew as the journey wore on. Every time I glanced at Mia, I saw the questions in her eyes—the fear and uncertainty that mirrored my own. But she would never voice them. She was too young. Too trusting. Too innocent.
And I—well, I had no right to burden her with the truth.
So I lied. I told her we'd be okay. I told her we'd make it to Seraphir. And for a moment, I let myself believe it too. But deep down, I knew better. Seraphir would never be a sanctuary. It was just another place to hide, another fortress to fall.
Each night, I could feel the ache in my chest grow. The hollow space where everything I used to feel had been ripped away, leaving only this raw, exposed version of myself. I had been strong once, back when I still believed in something. But now, I was a shadow of that person, and I didn't know how to get him back.
Mia, for all her silence, could still see through me. I could feel her eyes on me at every turn, watching, waiting for me to crack. I could hear the soft hitch in her breath when she thought I wasn't paying attention.
But I couldn't show her. I couldn't let her see me fall apart. Not when she needed me to be strong.
We passed through villages and forests, always on the lookout for danger. A few days in, we stumbled upon an old merchant's cart, where I was able to snag a cloak for Mia. It was a small gesture, but it made her smile. I couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt for every time she smiled, every time she seemed to forget, even for a moment, what had happened. I didn't want her to grow up too fast. But I knew, deep down, she already had.
On the fourth day, we came to a small village on the outskirts of Seraphir. The streets were quiet, as though the town itself was holding its breath. I knew we couldn't stay here long, but we needed to rest. The journey had taken its toll, and I could see the exhaustion settling in her eyes. So we found a quiet alley to rest in, hiding in the shadow of a tall building while the town bustled around us.
I pulled out some food from my pack I got in another village and handed it to Mia. She ate in silence, but her eyes kept flickering around the alley, as if she knew we weren't safe. And for once, I didn't argue with her instincts.
"Kaizen," she whispered after a while, breaking the silence. "Are we really going to be okay?"
I didn't answer right away. How could I? The truth was, I didn't know.
"We will be," I said, but even to my own ears, the words felt hollow.
The town grew darker as night fell, the streets emptying of life. It felt too quiet, like something was about to happen, something I couldn't control. But Mia needed rest, so I laid out a blanket for her in a corner of the alley and sat guard. The weight of the night pressed down on me, and I could feel the gnawing emptiness inside. It was the same feeling I always had when something was coming, something terrible. And I wasn't sure I was ready for it.
The wind shifted, and I could sense it—something was wrong. I stood, my body tense, every sense on alert.
Suddenly, the sharp sound of footsteps broke the silence. I whipped around, eyes scanning the street for any sign of danger. And then, from the shadows, a group of figures emerged. A ragtag group, but their eyes were sharp, their weapons glinting in the moonlight.
My heart pounded in my chest. I had to protect Mia. There was no other choice. I grabbed her by the arm and pulled her behind me, my hand reaching for the sword at my side. But before I could draw it, one of the men stepped forward, his sneer clearly visible in the dim light.
"Well, what do we have here?" he mocked, his voice low and cruel. "A boy and a little girl, all alone in the night. What a lucky catch."
My pulse quickened, and I forced myself to stand tall. I couldn't let them see fear. I couldn't let Mia see fear.
"We're just passing through," I said, my voice steady.
The man laughed, a harsh, hollow sound. "Oh, I don't think so. You're worth more than just passing through."
The man took a step closer, his features were frightening. He had black eyes dark as the abyss, a massive scar down his eye and nose, with a black beard covering his face. his grin widening as he sized us up. His companions stood behind him, circling like vultures, eyes glinting with hunger. I kept my grip on Mia's arm, pulling her closer to me, but I knew it wouldn't be enough.
"We don't want any trouble," I said, trying to keep my voice steady, though my heart was pounding in my chest. Every instinct screamed at me to fight, but I could feel the odds weighing against us.
The leader chuckled darkly. "It's too late for that."
Without warning, he lunged forward, grabbing Mia by the arm and pulling her away from me. A shock of cold fear shot through my veins, and I was on him in an instant, my hand reaching for my sword. But before I could even draw it, one of the others knocked me to the ground, pinning me down with a brutal force. My head collided with the cold ground, and stars exploded in my vision. I struggled, but it was no use.
"Mia!" I shouted, panic clawing at my throat as I fought against the bandit holding me down. "Mia!"
She screamed, struggling against the grip of the man who had her. But there was nothing I could do. I was too weak, too disoriented from the blow to my head. The world felt distant, fading in and out of focus.
"Let her go!" I shouted again, my voice hoarse, but the bandits only laughed. One of them kicked me in the side, and the pain flared up, sending a wave of nausea through me.
"You really think you're in control here?" the leader sneered. "This is our town now. You're nothing but livestock to us."
I tried to get up, tried to break free, but they were too strong. They moved with practiced ease, their cruel hands forcing me back down as they tied my arms together. Mia's desperate cries echoed in my ears, and my stomach churned with helplessness.
"Kaizen!" she screamed, tears streaking down her face. "Please!"
I couldn't do anything. I couldn't stop them. I couldn't protect her.
"Take a sleep now children"
with that last sentence, they sprayed something on us... and my vision began wavering
"m..m..mia.."
the world went black..
"..en!"
"..zen!"
I struggled to sit up, blinking away the dizziness, but before I could do anything, I heard the sound of chains rattling as they secured the door from the outside.
"Mia…" I whispered, my voice barely audible. My heart clenched when I saw her trembling on the ground, her eyes wide with fear. I crawled toward her, the cold floor scraping against my hands.
She looked up at me, her small face streaked with tears.
"Kaizen, I'm scared. What's going to happen to us?"
I pulled her into my arms, holding her tightly, as if I could somehow shield her from the darkness closing in around us. But I had no answers. I didn't know what was going to happen. I didn't even know if we were going to make it out alive.
"I'm sorry, Mia," I whispered, my voice thick with guilt. "I'm so sorry. I should've kept you safe. I should've protected you."
Mia clung to me, her small hands gripping my shirt. "You are protecting me, Kaizen. I know you'll get us out of here. You always do."
Her faith in me, her unwavering trust, tore at me. I wasn't sure how much longer I could keep this up. But for her, I would. I had to.
I closed my eyes for a moment, trying to steady my breathing, trying to summon the strength I needed to fight back. They had taken us. They had broken the fragile sense of safety I had been clinging to, but I wouldn't let them take her, too. I wouldn't let them destroy what little hope I had left.
The sound of muffled cries cut through the heavy silence of the room, jolting me from my thoughts. My head snapped toward the source, and I realized we weren't alone. From the cells that lined the darkened room, other children's voices rang out—frantic, terrified.
"Mom! Dad! Please! Where are you?!" a young boy's voice wailed from one of the nearby cells. His cries echoed off the walls, raw and desperate.
A girl, no older than Mia, sobbed uncontrollably from the cell next to us. "Please, somebody, help us! I want to go home!"
there were others... many other screams echoed the halls filling my head with dreadful music.
My chest tightened, and I felt a cold chill crawl up my spine. The walls felt smaller, the air thicker. These kids were no different from Mia—they were just as innocent, just as terrified. I could hear their cries, their pleas for their parents, and it cut me to the core.
But I had to push those feelings aside. I couldn't break. Not now.
Mia trembled in my arms, her small voice barely a whisper. "Kaizen... what's happening to them?"
I swallowed hard, holding her tighter. "I don't know, Mia. But I won't let them take you from me, not ever."
The screams around us continued, some pleading for their mothers, others calling out for help, their voices cracking with fear. A boy somewhere behind us was sobbing, asking where his sister was. It was too much. I could feel my own resolve faltering, the weight of all these frightened voices pressing down on me. But I couldn't let myself crumble—not when Mia was still holding onto me, not when she was still counting on me.
I forced myself to focus. They had made a mistake. They thought they could break us, that we'd lose hope, but they had no idea who they were dealing with. I wouldn't let them hurt Mia. I wouldn't let them take any more children.
"We'll get out of here, Mia," I promised again, my voice a low vow, more to steady myself than her. "I won't let them hurt you. Not ever again."
I took a deep breath and began to plan, each passing moment of the children's cries stoking a fire inside me. This was just the beginning. I would get us out of here. And I would make sure no one else suffered the same fate.
They wouldn't know what hit them.
And with that, I began to plan.