Page 9

Teach me your fears so I may become a horror of my own.

Khalani’s feet were frozen, rooted to the spot. The color drained from her face. She knew that voice. The repulsive baritone belonged to the guard who assaulted her in the lower levels. Pressure constricted her lungs and her stomach felt like it bottomed out.

Takeshi’s muscles tensed alongside her, and he abruptly released her arm. Mind-numbing fear encompassed the very air around her.

She reluctantly turned, and a sadistic smile greeted her. The bald guard stood a few feet away like a dangerous predator, his attention fixated on her.

Her skin crawled, and the hairs on her arms stood at attention. It took everything inside her not to flee. His eyes promised punishment—a punishment he would enjoy. Even the way he stared at Khalani made her feel violated.

Should she run? Should she fight back, or just accept her fate?

A dangerous glimmer flared in the guard’s eyes, revealing the grim reality of her situation .

It didn’t matter.

She was trapped between two guards of Braderhelm. She couldn’t fight both Takeshi Steele and the guard at the same time.

There was no escape.

Her hands fisted by her side. If that was to be her end, she would go down swinging.

“What do you need, Barron?” Takeshi’s deep voice cut through the tension.

Barron’s attention switched to him. He plastered on a cold smile. “Captain Steele. Always a pleasure. You can help me, actually. This is the new prisoner on your cell block, correct?” He gestured to Khalani, not looking away from Takeshi.

“It is.”

“Would you mind if I have a word alone with her?” Barron’s smile grew wider.

The stabbing fear intensified throughout her body, eclipsing everything else. This was it. Takeshi would hand her over to him, and she would undoubtedly suffer a fate worse than death. She imperceptibly glanced toward the exit. If she ran now, she could potentially gain a head start.

“Anything you need to say to my prisoner, you can say right here.” The words left no room for argument.

Her head snapped to Takeshi in surprise as her muscles tightened. Would they try to kill her in public to send a message? Takeshi didn’t meet her gaze. He folded his arms over his chest, focusing solely on the guard.

Barron casually rested a hand on the baton strapped around his waist, but there was nothing casual about the tone of his voice when he said, “I’ll have you know that your prisoner assaulted me in the lower levels. She’s coming with me alone so punishment can be carried out. This involves her and me, Captain Steele. No one else.”

Rapid breaths came out of Khalani’s chest as Barron turned his attention to her, gesturing to come to him. She didn’t move.

The only way she would go with that man was kicking and screaming .

“As your Captain, it is my business,” the words bit out in a low warning. Takeshi stood immobile. It was eerie, like the too-quiet calm before imminent carnage.

Barron’s callous smile faded and his eyes narrowed. “When I didn’t give her what she begged for, she attacked like an animal. She’s a disgusting criminal who needs to be disciplined.” He pointed at her accusingly, the vile hatred evident in his expression.

The color drained from her face. “ You liar ,” Khalani hissed, taking a step forward, but Takeshi yanked her back.

Barron tsked. “What did I tell you? Animals. She’s a little slut like the rest of them and needs to learn a thing or two about respect. This girl could have done permanent damage to me.”

She should’ve done more damage to him. She should’ve killed him when she had the chance. No doubt, Khalani had not been his first victim. She couldn’t see Takeshi’s face, but his hands tightened into fists at his side.

“What I find more appalling, Guard Barron,” Takeshi stated, stoic and calm, “is that you let your guard down, and a prisoner was able to overwhelm you. I think the Warden would be more inclined to hear about a guard too weak to fend off small girls. That would mean you’re unfit to handle your job.”

Barron’s face turned crimson, and he opened his mouth to say something, but Takeshi interrupted him.

“This is what’s going to happen. You will go back to your duties and stay away from Prisoner 317. We can’t risk her overwhelming you again, can we? Since she is my prisoner, I will administer any necessary punishment for her actions. If you do those things, then the Warden won’t find out about this,” Takeshi commanded, his intense gaze unyielding.

Khalani vaguely realized that her mouth hung open. She couldn’t believe her ears—Takeshi Steele was defending her.

“This fucking bitch attacked me.” Barron’s eyes flickered with revenge as he took a threatening step toward her. “For that, she should be dead. This prisoner is coming with me. ”

“Let me be clear.” Takeshi’s muscles appeared to ripple as he stepped forward, going toe to toe with him. “As your Captain, I have the final say on this. You would do well to remember that, Barron. You will stand down. Disobey me, and I’ll deliver your punishment myself in the fighting pit. And trust me, you don’t want that to happen.”

Even Khalani shivered at the underlying menace in his threat.

With each word, Barron seemed to shrink where he stood, like a deflated balloon. Takeshi remained steadfast and motionless.

Khalani’s awareness of the other prisoners and guards ceased. The air was so still, she could feel the blood pumping through her chest and the veins pulsing in her neck. The knot in her throat refused to dissipate as she awaited her fate.

“Apologies, Captain ,” Barron bit out, his smug confidence gone. His face turned a concerning shade of red, but after shredding Khalani with another death glare, he abruptly turned around.

Neither Khalani nor Takeshi moved for a few moments as Barron stalked away in silence. When he disappeared, Khalani let out the deep breath she didn’t realize she’d been holding.

Adrenaline still coursed through her veins at full throttle, her heart hammering so fast, she was sure he could hear it.

She glanced over at Takeshi, who unclenched his fists, stretching his fingers out by his side. The last thing she ever expected was for him to intervene.

Why did he do it?

She was unable to read Takeshi’s face as he turned in her direction, his foreboding, distant expression firmly in place.

“Is this the part where you kill me instead?” She waited.

Takeshi’s lips pressed into a hard line as he gave her the side-eye. “Not yet.” He walked past her without a word.

Khalani frowned. She didn’t know what to make of Takeshi. He was her biggest adversary, but he didn’t let Barron kill her.

Was it a game?

A way to toy with her emotions, to keep her off-balance and strike when she least expected it?

“Are you coming? ”

Her face scrunched up, eyes darting over her shoulder. Takeshi stood immobile as he studied her, his expression unreadable.

“Coming where?”

“To your cell. I’ll allow it this once.” He crossed his arms. “You’ve caused enough trouble for one day.”

Her brows furrowed, and she opened her mouth to argue over his choice of words but thought better of it. She desperately wanted to be alone behind bars, but danger loomed.

“What if that guard tries to find me?”

“He won’t.” His tone was so assured and sinister that she believed him.

She rubbed her palms together, muscles coiling anxiously. She escaped one deadly predator and was in the grasp of another. Takeshi couldn’t be underestimated. In many ways, he scared her more than Barron.

There was no physical match against Takeshi, and he knew it. But it was more than that. His onyx eyes were poised and calculating, like he could see through every wall she erected and every lie she strung by just staring at her.

“Decide now, or stay here,” he stated after she didn’t move. She swallowed and stepped forward, her body making the decision for her.

His head lowered, but he didn’t say anything. She quickly caught up to him, stepping double-time to keep up with his long legs. Everyone else was in the pit, so it was just the two of them as their footsteps echoed along the dark tunnel toward cellblock seven.

The silence between them expanded.

Khalani stared straight ahead, but Takeshi held her entire focus. She was keenly aware of his forceful presence beside her. He could crush her like a bug—an unceremonious end to an unceremonious life—but something about his steady, ruthless energy made her fingernails release their incessant digging into her palms. She didn’t feel the need to look over her shoulder, worried that someone would attack her.

Because no one in Braderhelm was more dangerous than the man beside her .

“He was the one who cut your arm,” Takeshi concluded, staring ahead.

“Yes.” No point in hiding the obvious. She glanced sideways at him. “You know he was lying, right? I was instructed to deliver the Ordinances. I didn’t randomly start attacking him.”

“I wouldn’t put it past you, Kanes. But I always know when one of my own is lying. I’ve had issues with him in the past and know of his tendencies. I believe you were defending yourself.” The macabre tone in his voice unnerved her, and she bit her lip as they kept walking.

“So, I’m not getting punished then?”

“I never said that.”

She shot him a sharp look. “What?”

“You’ve caused more trouble than anticipated, so I’m still deciding.” He looked up in thought. “Maybe some hard labor to pack on muscle or sewage duty since you have a knack for getting in deep shit.”

“Are you trying to be funny?” she snapped.

He stopped right in her path, startling her. “Careful, Kanes. You put yourself in a dangerously stupid position today, and I was forced to step in. Either exercise control or die a slow death while I watch. Got it?”

Blood rushed to her chest. “What was I supposed to do when he grabbed my throat and cut me? Was I supposed to go into his room and let him rape me? Am I to get punished for not dying?” she yelled.

“I should punish you for welcoming danger as if it’s a long-lost friend.” An untamed fire blazed beneath his eyes. “Don’t go to the guards living quarters again, and don’t cause any more problems. Are you capable of that?”

“Yes,” she growled. He didn’t need to tell her twice.

“Good. Now, I could put your mind at ease and say that I won’t hurt you for defending yourself against that pathetic excuse of a guard.” Takeshi leaned down to whisper in her ear, “But you prefer being close to death, isn’t that right?”

He walked past her, leaving her alone with her mouth open, fuming. If Khalani had laser beams for eyes, pieces of Takeshi would’ve been splattered all over the walls.

They finished the walk to her cell in silence, and he pulled out an electric pad to open the bars. His hard mask was back in place as he started touching the screen. He was so difficult to read. He saved her from being murdered, but Takeshi certainly wasn’t an ally.

He was an enigma. A dangerous one.

The bars opened with a buzz. Takeshi nudged his head toward her cell. “In you go, Kanes.”

She walked in and turned back to him. “Why did you help me?”

He frowned. “What?”

“With the guard. Why didn’t you just let him take me? That’s your job, isn’t it?”

His face turned ice-cold. “As Captain, my job is to keep everyone in line. Even the guards have boundaries. That guard overstepped those boundaries with his assault and attempt to potentially kill a prisoner from my block.”

“That makes sense, I guess.” She fumbled her hands. “You were just helping me because he disrespected your authority.”

After a few moments of silence, Khalani glanced up, and Takeshi’s gaze severed her like the edge of a knife.

“I may be the Captain of Braderhelm, Kanes, but I am not a monster.”

With that, he pressed a button on the screen and the bars started to close with a low hum. Their eyes didn’t leave one another as the metal slowly slammed home. The firm barrier represented the opposite halves of their world. She was the prisoner in a house of bars, and he held the key.

Takeshi let out a harsh breath and walked away, disappearing from her line of sight. Khalani wondered if Takeshi felt like a prisoner too in that moment.

Sometimes, despite holding all the power, one could still feel trapped.

She regretted using the space on the back of her parents’ picture to write about it. Then, suddenly, she remembered .

Khalani reached into her pocket and produced the pencil and sheets of paper Winnie gave her to count the guard’s cells. She carefully folded the notes and put them back in her pocket. Winnie would need them.

She fell to her knees and placed the blank sheet on solid ground.

She gripped the pencil, and words began to flow from her like a stream of water. Spilling and cascading until a whole sea of her mind poured out.

I am not a singular object or definition

Infinite variations of my soul exist

The great manifestations of the world we live in

Human hearts written on a mental list

No one person will view me the same

Love comes in the same intensity as hate

Judgment from strangers, fickle as paper planes

Unable to know your story, we suffer the same fate

Clear mirrors won’t display your desires

Outer shells are no reflection of the inner core

Dreams inevitably crumble as they ascend higher

Consequences turn into coveting more

This recurring reflection whispers to be free

I can see my darkened image in the hue

And then I realized, it wasn’t me

What I was staring at was you