The dungeon door creaked open again, and a small sliver of light cascaded down the ancient stone steps. Hushed whispers followed, barely audible over the oppressive silence. It must be Theo, I thought to myself, straining to listen closely. I heard her soft footsteps, but there were more behind her. Panic surged through me.
"Fuck!" I thought, my heart racing. The overseers or guards must have caught her and were bringing her down to lock her up as punishment, just like me. All I could think about was that I had to save her.
"Break the chains," my wolf whispered in my mind.
"I can't do that," I retorted snarkily. "What good is my wolf, just another voice to torment me, yet this one I can't escape."
"I despise that statement," my wolf responded.
"Fuck off," I thought. "Can't I just think in peace?"
"If you want peace, break your chains," my wolf sniggered in my head.
This sent me into a rage. Roaring, "Shut the fuck up!" my voice reverberated off the walls, snapping the chains that contained me in the process. My chest heaved, seeping with anger, and I focused on my breathing to try to calm down.
"Hopefully the guards didn't hear the chains snap," I thought.
"They didn't. You were yelling too loud," my wolf replied, teasing me.
Taking deep breaths to calm myself, I heard the footsteps continue down the stairs, with a faster pace and a sense of determination behind them. I pushed myself back against the wall where I had been chained, making it appear as if nothing had happened. Slowly, the footsteps got closer and closer. I hung my head as if unconscious, waiting to surprise those who had taken Theo captive.
As their steps echoed against the walls, my heart rate quickened with anticipation. I wasn't sure what I was going to do, but I knew I had to do something. The urge to protect Theo was overwhelming. She was just a child, innocent and brave, and she didn't deserve to suffer the same fate as me. The thought of her being hurt or punished filled me with a fierce determination.
The footsteps grew louder, and I could hear hushed voices. I strained to make out what they were saying, but the words were muffled. My muscles tensed, ready to spring into action. I couldn't let them hurt Theo. She had risked so much to bring me food and comfort, and now it was my turn to protect her.
The door to my cell creaked open, and I could feel the presence of multiple people. I kept my head down, feigning unconsciousness, my senses on high alert. The air was thick with tension, and I could hear the rapid breathing of those who had entered.
"Atlas?" a small voice called out, filled with worry.
It was Theo. Relief washed over me, but I remained still, waiting for the right moment to act. I could hear the shuffling of feet and the rustling of fabric as they moved closer.
"He's still unconscious," one of the voices whispered. "We need to be quick."
My mind raced. They were trying to move her, and I couldn't let them. I couldn't let them take her away. My muscles coiled like a spring, ready to explode into action. I just needed a cue, a single touch to launch my attack.
I felt a hand on my wrist, and that was it. I sprang to my feet, roaring with all the anger and fear I had been bottling up. I was unprepared for the scene in front of me, once the weight of my actions dawned on me.