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CHAPTER FOURTEEN

IRENE

“ T he kids should’ve never come! Damn it, where are they?” Irene whispered, her breath short as she and Blade crouched behind a bush-covered wall. She kept throwing anxious glances toward the fort’s entrance.

Blade, squatting beside her, said calmly, “Trust me. It’s going to work. Just wait.”

She was about to retort when commander Roderick appeared, followed by a line of chained prisoners. His heavy steps echoed as he barked, “Get these wretches in line and lock them up!” Two guards moved to open the fort’s massive doors, letting the group inside before closing it behind them, their spears crossing the entrance.

“Guard the fort and stay alert!” he ordered before vanishing into the distance.

Irene turned to Blade, but before she could say anything, Kibu and Kishi emerged. The twins walked hand in hand. Kibu clutched his eye as though injured, tears streaming down his face.

Irene held her breath. “Get out of here!” one guard shouted, waving his spear to shoo them away.

“Jill, they’re just kids, for gods’ sake!” protested the other.

“Orders are orders, Bill!” Jill snapped.

But Kishi, her cheeks glistening with fake tears, pleaded, “Help us… please, my brother was attacked…”

The guards, softened, leaned closer. In that instant, Kibu blew a glittering powder directly into their faces. Both men collapsed to the ground.

“That’s taken care of,” Blade said with a victorious grin.

“Let’s move,” Irene replied, already on her feet.

They stepped over the unconscious guards and slipped into the fort. The stairs descended into suffocating darkness, the walls damp and reeking of mold. Narrow windows allowed thin rays of light to break through the gloom.

“Which one?” Blade asked, his eyes scanning the rows of cells.

The frantic cries and pounding of prisoners’ fists on the bars filled the air, disorienting Irene.

“I don’t know!” she yelled, quickening her pace. She squinted, searching each cell.

Finally, at the end of the hallway, she stopped abruptly, panting. “I found her.”

In a dark cell, curled up on herself, Zahra slept. In the same cell, the old woman clapped her hands rhythmically, her laughter dissolving into a deranged cackle. Nearby, Lan stirred, his eyes opening to observe Irene silently.

“Blade, the keys!” Irene shouted.

Blade tossed them to her, and she caught them with a swift motion. She unlocked the door with a sharp twist.

The old woman cheered wildly, clapping her hands, her laughter echoing eerily.

Zahra opened her eyes, confused, before her expression hardened at the sight of Irene. “You!” she spat, her voice trembling with anger.

“Irene, hurry up!” Blade called from down the hall.

Lan turned to Zahra. “Zahra, you know her?” he asked, confused.

Irene raised an eyebrow. “So, your name’s Zahra?”

Zahra backed away, her face twisting with panic. “Don’t come near me! Lan, stay away from her! She’s a criminal!”

Irene chuckled. “And yet, you’re the one in a cell.”

Zahra exploded. “Because of you! I’m here because of you!”

Irene rolled her eyes. “And now I’m here to save you. Isn’t life funny? I need a Tuli for a job, and guess what? That’s you.”

Zahra let out a hysterical laugh, doubling over as if about to vomit. “You’re completely insane. I’m not going anywhere with you. Whatever your plan is, I’m useless to it!”

Irene’s patience snapped. She lunged forward, grabbing Zahra by the arm and yanking her up forcefully. Her gaze was hard.

“Listen to me carefully. If you stay here, you will die. They’re going to hang you. Do you understand? A noose around your neck, so tight you won’t be able to breathe. If you’re lucky, your neck will snap instantly. But with your luck? It won’t. You’ll feel the rope cut into your skin, your lungs burning, and you’ll struggle, again and again. And in that moment, you’ll regret not coming with me.”

Zahra froze, her lips trembling.

Irene turned to Lan. “You too. If you’re not completely stupid, you’ll take this chance to escape.”

Zahra wavered, her knees threatening to give out. Irene didn’t wait for an answer. She dragged Zahra out of the cell with brutal force as Blade shouted from the end of the hallway: “Irene, we need to go, now!”

As Irene dragged Zahra out of the cell, they froze.

In front of them, Blade stood face-to-face with two guards, their swords already drawn. They blocked the passage, their sharp gazes locked on Blade, ready to strike. Irene’s heart raced. Two guards here meant more could be nearby. Or worse—the commander himself.

“Stop! Surrender immediately!” one of the guards shouted.

Blade straightened, gripping his sword tightly.

Irene instinctively stepped in front of Zahra, pushing her behind. With a swift motion, she drew her own sword and positioned herself beside Blade.

“Blade?” Irene murmured, her eyes fixed on the guards, her breath quick and uneven.

The guards watched them, hesitating on which target to strike first.

“Right or left?” Blade asked, his voice eerily calm, his eyes locked on their opponents.

Irene gave a nervous smirk, keeping her focus on the guard in front of her. “Left.”

Without warning, Blade attacked. The clash of metal echoed in the damp air as he lunged at the guard on the right. Irene sprang forward, her sword slicing through the air to meet the guard on the left.

The prison erupted around them—the prisoners roared with excitement, their feral screams bouncing off the stone walls.

Blades clashed violently. Irene struck quickly and precisely, her movements sharp and practiced. But her opponent was strong and fresh, while she was exhausted, wounded, and barely holding herself together. The guard dodged her next strike and, in one swift motion, disarmed her.

Her sword hit the ground with a metallic crash, and she was thrown against the wall. The air was knocked from her lungs as she struggled to regain her footing. But before she could move, the guard turned toward Zahra, grabbing her by the hair and shaking her roughly.

“DON’T TOUCH HER!” Irene screamed, her voice breaking with hysteria.

Diving to the ground, she reached for the knife at her belt. She slid under the guard and slashed his thighs with brutal force. He let out a howl of pain and collapsed to one knee.

Irene jumped to her feet, knife in hand, and struck again, stabbing wherever she could.

Meanwhile, Blade was still locked in a brutal, close-quarters struggle with the other guard.

The guard Irene fought tried to rise, but she plunged her knife into his stomach. His face twisted in agony as he slumped against the wall, motionless.

Irene turned to Zahra, relief flooding her—only for it to shatter in an instant.

A third guard emerged from the shadows behind Zahra, his sword already raised. Before Irene could react, the blade pierced Zahra.

“No!” Irene screamed.

Zahra froze, her trembling hands moving to her blood-soaked stomach. Her legs gave out, and she collapsed against Irene, who caught her just before they hit the ground. Irene’s knees slammed into the floor as she cradled Zahra’s limp body.

Lan, who had stayed in the shadows of the cell, rushed to them. He placed a hand on Irene’s shoulder, his eyes scanning Zahra’s wound.

“Don’t move. Let me—” he started, but Irene cut him off.

“We can’t lose her!” Irene cried, her hands pressing clumsily against Zahra’s wound. She turned to Blade, who had just snapped the neck of the final guard.

“Blade, do something!” she screamed, her voice cracked with panic.

Blade spun around, his wild eyes searching for a solution. “We don’t have time! If we stay here, we’re dead!”

“I’m not letting her die! We need her, do you hear me?!”

Blade ran a hand through his hair, as though trying to contain his own panic.

Next to him, Lan closed his eyes, taking a deep breath, his face tense. “I swore I’d leave this cursed city… the moment I got the chance,” he muttered, his voice heavy.

Then, he raised his head, his burning gaze locking first on Blade, then on Irene.

“Take me with you… and I’ll save her. You have my word. I can heal her.”

Irene and Blade exchanged a quick, breathless glance.

Without another word, Blade nodded and rushed forward. With a sure movement, he lifted Zahra into his arms, his face set with determination despite the panic still gleaming in his eyes.

“Let’s go! Now!” he barked.

Irene sheathed her knife, her breathing ragged, and followed close behind.

Lan dove into a dark corner, grabbing a leather satchel before slinging it over his shoulder and running after them.

“Faster! They’re coming!” Blade shouted as they reached the stairs leading to the exit.

Irene cast one last glance at Zahra, her face resting against Blade’s shoulder. Irene needed her. She had to survive.