Page 26

You’re the story I read slowly. I want to savor and memorize every word of you.

The moment Takeshi’s full lips touched hers, fiery energy raced beneath her skin, kickstarting her heart and lungs. Every muscle worked overtime to keep her body standing upright. Khalani gripped his shirt to steady herself but found her hands tugging Takeshi closer.

When her lips moved against his, Takeshi tightened his hold, deepening the kiss even further.

All the tension, frustration, and intimacy built between them spilled and overflowed like a beating wave.

They were no longer in Braderhelm, no longer in Apollo.

For a brief moment in time, they were the sole occupants of the earth, without fear, without thoughts of right or wrong.

Only pure abandon.

When his tongue brushed against her lips, her heart raced into the stratosphere. Khalani stood up on her toes, wanting—no, needing —more.

Takeshi placed his hand on her lower back, pulling her even closer—their bodies wedged together—as if they could fuse themselves into one person .

Takeshi started to walk her backward, his demanding lips glued to hers. Her back met the rubber bars, and he pulled his mouth away. She was about to protest when his tongue met her neck, right below her ear. Goosebumps raced up and down her spine as the warmth in her stomach burned hotter.

Khalani felt the scrape of Takeshi’s teeth as he bit down, not deep enough to wound, but the light sting sent her pulse racing.

His tongue stroked away the pain. A deep moan escaped her lips. The tendons in her neck eased their tension, and her head fell back as Takeshi continued to lick, bite, and suck, the strong muscles of his body molding against hers.

Nothing was supposed to feel that good.

Every nerve ending in Khalani’s body ignited with desire, and it felt like she would combust in his arms. Simply come apart at the seams.

But Takeshi was right there to pull her back together.

His tongue lowered to trail the lines of her collarbone, and her nails dug into his biceps as his hand gripped her thigh, securing her body to his.

“Captain Steele, come in,” a male voice rang from Takeshi’s back pocket.

Khalani frowned, lifting her head, but the heated look from Takeshi halted her movement.

“We’re ignoring that,” Takeshi grunted, kissing his way down her chest.

His lips were gentle and melodic, but he then centered his lips over her breast and sucked her nipple hard as if the fabric wasn’t even there. A whine left her throat, and her neck fell back, eyes connecting with the rising angels above her.

His hand cupped the back of her neck, holding her in place as he consumed her. Giving her a taste of heaven.

“Captain Steele.”

Takeshi’s other hand slid to her backside, and he pulled her even closer as if he wanted to fasten her to him and never let go.

“Captain Steele, do you read me?”

Takeshi growled against the fabric. Looking like he wanted to commit murder, he released his possessive grip, and snatched the walkie from his back pocket.

“What?!” he yelled, and the person on the end of the line hesitated.

“S-sorry, sir. We know you like to work out alone at this time, but the Warden is requesting your presence in his office.”

She stiffened, giving him a wide-eyed look, and Takeshi muttered a curse.

“Can’t it wait?” he demanded.

“I don’t think so, Captain. The Warden was very insistent we call you to meet him right now,” the guard stammered.

Takeshi’s brows were pulled incredibly low as he turned off the walkie. “ Fuck .” He ran a frustrated hand through his hair.

Their chests rose rapidly, reluctant to let go of one another. As if the second they did, prison would steal that moment too, destined to be forgotten and dismembered.

“You have to go?” she asked, her lips swollen.

“We both do,” his tone was virulent, like he would rather bar the door shut, preventing anyone from entering. But they both knew that couldn’t happen. His position wouldn’t let him.

She nodded solemnly, releasing her vicelike grip on his shirt and straightening. The loss of that connection already made her chest feel like it was being punctured with knives, but Khalani didn’t dare show it.

“I understand,” she said, trying to remain impassive when all she wanted was to ask him to stay with her. Maybe nothing had changed between them. But her insides were twisted and knotted together. Her lips tingled, as if her body was trying to hold onto the memory of his touch.

“Khalani.” Takeshi gazed deep into her eyes. “It’s taking all of my self-control not to barricade this room, make you scream with pleasure and take away every bit of torment you’ve endured in this place.” His jaw tightened as if he were battling the urge to do just that.

“But you can’t,” she finished for him.

“Not now.” Takeshi seethed. “And if you don’t want this to happen again, I understand and will keep my distance. But if you do, it’s not over for me. To be honest…I might never be over you.” Deep lines marred his forehead, as if his own admission surprised him.

His words stirred a torrent of emotions within her.

Navigating them felt like climbing a cliff without a harness. The fear of falling was constant and endless, but she kept going for the hint of freedom at the top. And the fact that she was scared made the decision easier.

Because the things worth pursuing required the most effort.

“It’s not over for me, either,” she whispered, relinquishing her truth.

Takeshi released a deep sigh, leaning his forehead against hers.

For a second, a fleeting breath in a human lifetime, time slowed down for them. When his skin rested against hers, there were no titles or restrictions, no qualms or antagonist retorts. They were simply two people surrendering to the demands of the heart.

Takeshi’s heated breath against her lips made her chest tighten with raw emotion, desire flooding her once more, but he pulled away. With a chuckle, Takeshi shook his head, but his dark eyes were scorching.

“We better go now, or else my hands and tongue will be all over you, and we won’t leave this room until tomorrow.”

Oh no…

Not that…

Takeshi grinned devilishly at the expression on her face.

After she finished changing back into her uniform, he grabbed her hand, pulling her toward the exit. Khalani’s brows rose to her hairline at the sight of their entwined hands. She wanted to say something, but coherent sentences refused to form, as if her brain had checked out the moment Takeshi’s lips met hers.

When they left the training room, Takeshi squeezed her hand, reluctantly letting go as they strode through the desolate halls. Silence permeated the air, his face twisting in a promise of violence as they veered closer to her cell.

“I wish I didn’t have to leave you in this cell,” Takeshi hissed indignantly, his jaw ticking. He was like those sleek jungle cats she had learned about in school. Swift and calculating, waiting to strike and devour.

“I’m used to it now,” Khalani said. “The roaches don’t bother me, nor do I bother them. Very symbiotic relationship we’ve got going on.”

Takeshi grunted and opened the bars. “We’ll talk more tomorrow, okay?” His eyes were pensive but tinted with hope, a sentiment rarely seen from Takeshi.

She nodded, afraid that if she spoke, the entirety of her heart would spill over. After that day, no force, not even herself, could abnegate her feelings for Takeshi Steele. And judging by the way he clutched her in his arms and kissed her with wild abandon, Takeshi was unable to deny those vehement emotions either.

Takeshi’s brows drew low as her bars slammed home, and they stared at each other through the barrier, remnants of their heated thoughts rippling in the space between them. His expression hardened as if preparing for war before he marched out of sight.

Maybe that’s what she needed to do.

Prepare for war.

If there was anything Khalani had learned in her short, tumultuous life, it was two rules:

Every action had a consequence.

And the truth always came out.

Always.

They would either be free or dead when that happened.

****

Takeshi didn’t arrive to conduct the cell block count the next morning. Another guard with cold, grey eyes, twice Takeshi’s age, stood in his place.

Khalani’s pulse quickened, and deep lines marred her forehead. “Excuse me, sir,” she whispered when the guard walked by her cell. “Where is Captain Steele? ”

Her head whipped to the side, pain erupting through her cheek as the guard backhanded her across the face.

“Did I say you could talk?” the guard seethed. “Next time, I cut out your pathetic tongue.”

Khalani gritted her teeth and nodded in submission, the sharp pain persisting as the guard walked away. She felt Serene’s gaze but couldn’t look in her direction. She couldn’t stare or concentrate on anything as her mind rippled through violent theories.

Did the Warden somehow find out about their kiss?

Was Takeshi released from his job?

Worse?

“Everyone to the pit!” the guards yelled.

Khalani’s head lifted in surprise. They were supposed to enter the pit at the end of the day. The other prisoners glanced around in confusion, but everyone started shuffling toward the pit.

A gentle hand grasped her shoulder. “Are you alright, Khalani?” Serene asked, her bright blue eyes filled with concern.

Her lips trembled, and she shook her head, desperately trying to maintain composure. “Why are they taking us to the pit?”

“I don’t know.” Serene frowned. “But we better go before that guard comes back. I wonder what happened to Steele.”

Khalani flinched at the mention of his name. Maybe nothing happened and the guard was just filling in for Takeshi that morning. It could be a simple explanation. But her heart pounded frantically as every prisoner in Braderhelm made their way to the pit.

Khalani’s brows furrowed as they entered the vast cavern. In the center of the room, a raised wooden platform, roughly fifty feet long and wide, was positioned over the fighting pit.

The Warden, dressed in his dusty black uniform, stood on in with his arms crossed and a cold, calculated look in his eyes.

His piercing stare swept over the room, briefly landing on her, but he quickly glanced away. Every guard appeared to be in the pit, standing at attention around the large circle of prisoners, with black rifles held aggressively in their hands.

Every guard…except for Takeshi .

She stood on her tiptoes, hastily glancing around the room, hoping to be mistaken. A warm hand suddenly clasped hers, and she nearly leaped out of her skin.

“What do you think’s going on?” Derek squeezed her hand tighter, his anxious gaze sweeping over the wooden platform.

“I don’t know. But I don’t like it,” she whispered back.

Adan moved beside Serene, the siblings exchanging worried glances. Grumbles of confusion and anxious chatter grew louder from the prisoners.

“Stop talking!” one of the guards yelled, pointing the barrel of his gun at the crowd.

Everyone instantly quieted, and the Warden smacked his lips together and held out his hands in greeting.

“I’m sure you’re all wondering why you’re here.” The Warden’s calculated gaze moved between each prisoner.

“I won’t delay the suspense any longer. Despite your sorrowful mistakes, you’ve all been given a second chance at life in Braderhelm. Some have helped with street cleanups. Others have even had the pleasure of serving the Governor himself in Genesis.” The Warden made eye contact with her, and she swallowed hard, unease seeping through her.

“The Council and Governor have decided to reward your hard work by granting nearly half the prisoners the opportunity of serving at the Genesis Ball, celebrating the Tenth Anniversary of the Great Domed City.”

Whispers of shock billowed through the crowd, except the four of them. Derek squeezed her hand tighter. Their plan to sneak the walkie onto Genesis and contact Hermes was slowly taking shape.

The Warden continued, “Our Captain, Takeshi Steele, has diligently planned security measures for this event and compiled a list of…deserving prisoners.”

Khalani’s heart released the weight holding her immobile when Takeshi entered the pit. No one found out about their forbidden kiss. Takeshi was alive .

Derek hissed when her nails dug into his palm.

Her heart beat furiously as Takeshi made his way onto the wooden platform and handed the Warden a large sheet of paper. The Warden nodded to him, and Takeshi stepped down, taking his place beside the guards.

His face was iron smooth—zero emotion emitting from him—and his incredibly hard gaze stared straight ahead.

“The following prisoners will serve at the Genesis Ball.”

The Warden began reading the list Takeshi handed him, yelling number after number. The austere moment felt like a graduation ceremony, except there were no diplomas or congratulations, and guns were pointed at the crowd.

The Warden’s loud voice permeated the air, but her focus was solely on Takeshi.

She hadn’t realized how much he meant to her until the dreaded voices in her mind spoke of his permanent demise.

It would’ve been her fault. Death creeping outside her door, waiting to expunge the ones she cared for the most

And the speed at which Takeshi went from being nothing to consuming everything terrified her.

Khalani flinched when the Warden yelled her number.

The clenching sensation in her stomach didn’t cease until Adan, Serene, and Derek’s numbers were called. They were fortunate. The dangerous plan to contact Hermes was still feasible, reachable.

This day may turn out okay.

The Warden slowly folded the sheet, seemingly done. “If I haven’t called your number, stand on the platform, and you’ll be given your new assignment.”

Prisoners around her grumbled but gradually shuffled forward. Fewer than half of the prisoners remained still while the rest—close to 200 people—made their way onto the wooden stage, faces marked with confusion and wariness.

The Warden hopped down, and the prisoners on the stage stood shoulder to shoulder, dirty and emaciated. Khalani couldn’t help but notice that most of the men and women who remained on the ground were the strongest and youngest of the prisoners.

“Wonderful,” the Warden exclaimed, pulling another piece of paper from his pocket. “I shall read you this from the Great Governor Huxley.”

He cleared his throat. “To my Braderhelm constituents, while it is unfortunate that you all have committed various crimes for which you should be ashamed, we acknowledge the hard work put into making up for those atrocious deeds. Apollo is a parent to us all, and we must maintain that precious balance of life.

“In light of recent developments that have shifted resources, difficult decisions have been made to help preserve that balance, but we are proud to know that Braderhelm has volunteers ready to sacrifice for the greater good. Indeed, you shall be commended, and people will speak of your heroic deeds for years to come.”

A shiver ran down her spine, and she glanced at Takeshi, who whipped his harsh gaze to the Warden, his Adam’s apple bobbing as he swallowed.

The atmosphere was tense and still as the Warden nodded to the ten guards directly in front of the platform. In unison, they raised their rifles to the stage. The prisoner’s eyes widened, mouths open in horror, hands up in surrender. But it was too late.

As one, the guards pulled their triggers, and gunfire rang through the pit like an explosion.

BANG. BANG. BANG.

Bullet after meteoric bullet.

Screams ricocheted faster than ammunition. Bodies dropped, one on top of another, like the rain she used to dream of as a kid. In a crimson wave, each prisoner on stage collapsed to the floor, bodies twitching, howls of agony rang in symphony until the next crash of bullets killed those cries.

Khalani’s mouth hung agape. Her whole body trembled like an earthquake.

She couldn’t speak.

Think .

Wails of horror emanated from the prisoners who remained standing, rough hands covering their ears to block the horrible sounds. People collapsed to their knees, shaking their heads in denial, unable to look at the bodies.

A few surviving prisoners fiendishly jumped off the stage, screaming in terror as they attempted to escape the bloodshed, but they were brutally shot down, falling face-first to the ground.

The flash of gunfire finally stopped when there was no movement on the platform. Mountains of dead prisoners, men and women, lay over one another, their eyes still open in panic and terror. Blood pooled across the wooden stage like a crimson blanket, dripping over the edge.

“What the hell is going on?!” Brock yelled from a couple prisoners beside her, and stepped forward as if to jump on the stage.

“Get back, Death-Zoner!” the guards yelled at Brock, brandishing their weapons toward him. The putrid scent of death rippled through the air, and prisoners cried and shook. Some puked bile, but no one dared move another inch.

The Warden cleared his throat, looking uncomfortable, but faced the surviving prisoners. “Unfortunately, this had to happen, but we serve the will of Governor Huxley and the city of Apollo. Afternoon shifts are canceled. Return to your cells immediately. Any hints of rebellion, and I promise you will suffer the same fate as these prisoners.”

His words bounced around the walls like a distant drum but felt meaningless. Nightmares had coiled and woven their way into reality.

Her vision narrowed as Khalani’s gaze fixated on one of the dead prisoners. The girl was hunched over on top of the pile, blood dripping from her mouth. Her head was half-shaved, her face slightly turned to the light, and Khalani recognized the piercings.

It was Dana.

Shallow breaths came in tiny gasps, as if her lungs were pierced with a bullet themselves. Tears billowed from her eyes and she swayed in her spot, vision blackening as prisoners around her slowly began to move, heartbreaking sobs echoing around the cold room .

Dana’s eyes were partially opened. Khalani felt like her stare was carving right through her skin, as if to scream, “ Isn’t this what you wanted ?”

Khalani shut her eyes, cupping her hands to her face in a vain attempt to cut off her sight forever, but it was useless. Nothing would ever erase that image.

The sheer brutality and blatant disregard for human life terrified her far more than if a gun was held to her forehead.

Why was Khalani spared while Dana—one of the strongest female prisoners in Braderhelm—was picked for death? Why was she on the list…

She suddenly froze, and her gaze snapped to Takeshi.

A vein in his neck throbbed, and his fists were clenched at his sides as his murderous stare drilled into the Warden.

But he made no move forward.

No protest. No argument against the Warden’s actions.

Takeshi handed the Warden the list of names, sparing her life and executing the others.

He knew what would happen.

The horror, guilt, and betrayal were like metal shards that landed on her chest and nearly brought Khalani to her knees, crushing every last sentiment of hope.

She thought he was different, but in actuality, Takeshi was molded by the same violence the rest of the guards thrived on. In her stupid infatuation with him, she forgot who he really was.

Her heart splintered and fractured like broken glass.

Lifeless eyes bore into her soul, compounding her shame and sins. Hundreds of voices screamed in her mind that it was her fault, the loudest being her own.

She should’ve killed the Governor when she had a chance.

She should’ve protected her heart more.

It should’ve been her lying on that stage.

“You heard the Warden.” One of the guards pushed her shoulder with the butt of his gun. “Back to your cell! ”

“I’ll take this one from here.” Takeshi’s deep voice cut through the haze. He towered over the guard, the underlying threat apparent in his menacing gaze.

“Y-yes, Captain,” the guard stammered and hastily retreated.

Khalani’s chest tightened further, but she refused to look at him. Refused to break down in front of him. He didn’t deserve her pain. Her anger. Her tears. He rescinded his right to those the minute he sentenced all those people to their death like animals.

She walked straight for the exit, ignoring him completely. Hard steps followed behind, and she felt Takeshi’s rough gaze burrowing a hole in her back.

Fury and despair were separate entities inside her.

For every prisoner who died, she wanted to bury a dagger in those responsible. She wanted it to hurt . She wanted the bastards to look into her eyes as she took their lives, knowing that hell was waiting for them on the other side.

Takeshi’s tender eyes flashed through her mind and she rubbed her chest, clawing it to distract from the tears threatening to fall. She couldn’t make sense of it. Why would he let that happen? Why didn’t he try and stop it?

Her lips quivered, the barest hint of grief escaping her, but Takeshi heard it. He gripped her elbow and pulled her off into a deserted hallway, not a soul in sight. “Kanes.”

She shook her head minutely, staring at his broad chest, wishing she could sink into the shadows.

If she saw the betrayal in his eyes, that would make it real.

“Khalani.” The rough whisper escaped him like her name was a forgotten prayer. He brushed his finger against her cheek, capturing an escaped tear, and she leaped back like his caress burned.

“Don’t touch me,” she hissed.

Takeshi’s face twisted in agony. “I had no choice, Khalani.”

“Stop. I don’t want to hear it.” She was losing control.

“If I hadn’t written their numbers down, the Warden would have, and you could’ve been on that list. I refused to let that happen. I was protecting you,” he insisted, searching her eyes for recognition, for light.

“I’m not the only one who deserves your protection! We all mean something to someone. The prisoners on that stage were someone’s daughter, son, brother, sister, mother, or husband.” Tears flowed freely down her cheeks, the gruesome images refusing to dissipate.

His muscles stiffened, bitterness and resignation hovering over his expression. “Not everyone can be saved.”

She ground her teeth and found the strength to stare straight into his blazing eyes, and it was like all the fiery passion in the world was bottled in those charcoal spheres.

“Why did you choose to be a guard?”

“To defend my mother and those who can’t protect themselves,” he answered without hesitation.

“So, will you help us fight the Governor and escape Braderhelm?”

Takeshi tensed, and his brow deepened further in consternation. The ensuing silence was all the answer she needed.

She narrowed her eyes and got right in his face.

“I think your mother would be rolling in her grave if she knew what became of you.”

He visibly flinched at her words, but she kept going.

“The person who stands by is just as guilty as the one who pulls the trigger. The dead don’t need your apologies or thoughts and prayers. They need action. But you’re still holding on to the hope that the Governor won’t allow this to happen again. He will. It might be me on the list next time, and you won’t have a say in it. What will your move be then? Until you can look me in the eye and tell me that you’re ready to fight back against your superiors, against Apollo , I have nothing to say to you.”

Takeshi was shocked into silence. He was the strongest and most confident person she’d ever met, but in that moment, he’d never looked more unsure of himself.

She turned and walked away. Done with the conversation. Done with him .

And he let her leave.

When the bars of her cell slammed shut, she roughly collapsed onto the cot and bit down hard on the thin blanket.

And screamed.

Screamed till her voice was hoarse and her teeth chattered. Screamed till her throat could produce no more sound.

She lifted her head to the dirty ceiling as if to ask God for help, but no one answered. She was alone. Abandoned within destruction.

Some things are better left in shatters, lest they use their strength to topple the world.

She carved a poem to remember that night. It was a lesson. A warning. A vow.

Severed Dreams

When hearts no longer cope

And lungs no longer breathe

What happens to their dying hopes?

Are they whisked to the light?

Flown with shadows in the dark?

Or do they stay with those lost in sight?

Cover your eyes and hold onto that fear

These fates will be delivered in the cold

Beware the girl containing severed dreams

Her revenge is known to lacerate the soul