Lucian watched as Cellmate 1 smiled, his brown teeth showing clearly under the dim light. The man's steps were slow, steady, and deliberate, like he knew he had already won.
"You're finished now, huh?" the man sneered, his voice rough and mocking.
Lucian didn't answer. He couldn't waste energy on words. They wouldn't save him.
Instead, he shifted his weight, stepping back just slightly. His movements were calm, calculated, almost casual. His heel brushed against something soft-the rag on the floor. He didn't look down at it. He didn't dare risk giving away his plan.
The man didn't notice. He saw only what he wanted to see: a frightened boy with no options left. To him, Lucian was trapped, powerless.
"'ll make this quick," the man muttered, cracking his knuckles as he stepped closer.
Lucian waited, his breathing steady despite the fear clawing at his chest.
Timing was everything. He had to stay calm.
The man lunged forward, swinging his fist low and hard, aiming for Lucian's stomach.
Lucian moved. He twisted his body to the side, the punch barely missing him. The man's momentum carried him forward, throwing him off balance.
Lucian didn't hesitate. He dropped low, grabbing the rag from the floor. His fingers worked quickly, looping the cloth around the man's ankle. With a sharp tug, he yanked it as hard as he could.
The man's eyes widened as his foot slipped out from under him. He let out a startled cry, his arms flailing as he fell backward.
Time seemed to slow as the man's body hit the ground with a loud, bone-shaking thud.
His head smacked the hard floor, and his groan echoed through the cell. He lay there, dazed, his limbs twitching weakly.
Lucian didn't stop to think. He had already planned his next move. His feet pounded against the floor as he ran toward the corner of the cell, where the metal tray lay.
He grabbed it with both hands, its edges cold and rough against his fingers. Turning back, he saw the man trying to sit up, his movements slow and unsteady.
Lucian charged forward, lifting the tray above his head.
Bam!
The sound was deafening as the tray slammed into the man's skull. His body jerked, then slumped back down.
Lucian's chest heaved as he stepped back, watching the man. His hands trembled, still clutching the tray. The man was still breathing, his fingers twitching slightly. It wasn't enough.
Lucian lifted the tray again.
Bam!
Another loud crash echoed through the cell. The man's body went still, his hands falling limp.
Lucian stood there for a moment, breathing hard. But he knew it wasn't over.
The tray wasn't enough. The man could wake up at any moment, and Lucian couldn't risk that.
He dropped the tray with a clatter and grabbed the rag again. Twisting it tightly, he knelt behind the man and looped it around his neck.
His arms burned as he pulled with all his strength. The man's body jerked weakly at first, but his struggles faded quickly. After a few moments, he went limp, his body heavy and motionless.
Lucian let go of the rag, his hands shaking.
His heart was pounding so loudly he could barely hear the faint chime that followed.
A glowing message appeared in front of him, bright against the gloom of the cell.
[1 kill, +10 XP]
[Congratulations, you've made your first kill.]
[Reward: +20 XP]
Lucian stared at the words, his chest rising and falling as he caught his breath. His XP bar now read 30 XP.
"All that... for just 10 XP?" he muttered under his breath. It didn't feel right. The effort, the danger, the weight of what he'd done—it felt like it should've been worth
more.
But he didn't have time to dwell on it. A shadow fell over him, and he looked up to see Cellmate 2 standing above him.
This man was different. Bigger, stronger, smarter. His expression wasn't angry-it was calm, almost amused.
"Oh, I'm not like him," the man said, gesturing to the unconscious figure on the ground. "You're on your own this time, boy."
Lucian frowned in confusion. He wondered what the man meant by tgat statement.
At the same time, eyes darted around the cell, searching for the tray, the rag, his makeshift weapons.
It was then that his eyes widened as he realized what had happened.
There was no weapon around him.
The man had moved them out of reach.