Mia's heart raced as she stepped out of the cell, her bare feet padding silently against the cold stone floor. The dungeon was eerily quiet, the kind of silence that made her skin crawl. Every step she took felt like a gamble, the threat of discovery looming over her like a dark shadow.
She glanced at the other prisoners as she moved past their cells. Their hollow eyes followed her every move, but none of them said a word. Whether it was fear or resignation, Mia couldn't tell. She clenched the makeshift tool in her hand, her knuckles white from the grip.
The corridor stretched endlessly ahead, lit only by the faint glow of torches mounted on the walls. Mia's breath came in shallow gasps as she neared the spiral staircase she had been dragged down earlier. She paused at the base of the stairs, listening intently for any sound.
Nothing.
She placed one foot on the first step, her body trembling with both fear and anticipation. But just as she began to ascend, a loud, echoing clang rang out behind her.
"Hey! She's out!" a voice bellowed.
Mia froze, her blood turning to ice. She spun around to see one of the guards standing at the far end of the corridor, his eyes wide with alarm. He held a torch in one hand and a sword in the other, his expression shifting quickly from surprise to rage.
"Get her!" he shouted, his voice reverberating through the dungeon.
Panic surged through Mia as she bolted up the stairs, her bare feet slipping against the worn stone. Behind her, the sound of heavy boots thundered through the corridor as more guards joined the chase.
She pushed herself harder, her lungs burning with the effort. The staircase seemed endless, twisting upward like a cruel labyrinth. She could hear the guards gaining on her, their shouts growing louder with every passing second.
Just as she reached the top of the stairs, a pair of strong hands grabbed her from behind. She screamed, thrashing wildly, but the grip was unyielding.
"Stop struggling, you little rat," a guard growled, his voice rough with exertion.
Mia fought with everything she had, kicking and clawing, but it was no use. The guard yanked her arms behind her back, twisting them painfully as he dragged her down the stairs.
"You're going to regret that," he snarled, his breath hot against her ear.
Back in the dungeon, the guards wasted no time. They bound Mia's wrists with thick iron shackles, the cold metal biting into her skin. Her makeshift tool was ripped from her grasp and tossed aside with a sneer.
"You really thought you could escape?" one of the guards jeered, his voice dripping with mockery.
Mia glared at him, her chest heaving with exhaustion. "You can't keep me here forever," she said, her voice steady despite the fear clawing at her insides.
The guard chuckled darkly. "Oh, we'll see about that."
The rogue leader appeared moments later, his expression a mixture of amusement and anger. He looked her over, his yellow eyes gleaming in the dim light.
"Clever little lamb," he said, his tone almost admiring. "But not clever enough."
He stepped closer, crouching down so they were at eye level. "You've caused enough trouble for one night. I think it's time we put you somewhere… more secure."
Mia's stomach twisted as his words sank in.
They dragged her through the fortress, deeper than she had been before. The air grew colder, heavier, and the walls seemed to close in around her. The guards said nothing as they hauled her down another spiraling staircase, this one narrower and steeper than the last.
When they finally stopped, Mia found herself standing before a massive iron door. It was ancient and rusted, with heavy bolts and strange markings etched into its surface.
The rogue leader stepped forward, pulling a large key from his belt. He inserted it into the lock and turned it with a loud, grating click. The door creaked open, revealing a cavernous chamber beyond.
The room was dimly lit by a single torch, its flickering light casting eerie shadows across the stone walls. The air was thick with the scent of sweat and damp earth. In the center of the room was a massive wheel, its wooden spokes worn smooth from years of use. Chains hung from the walls, their metal links clinking softly as the door swung open.
Mia's heart sank as she took in the sight.
"Welcome to your new home," the rogue leader said, his voice laced with mockery. "You'll be spending a lot of time here."
He gestured to the wheel, and the guards shoved her forward. Mia stumbled, her shackled wrists making it impossible to catch herself.
"What is this?" she demanded, her voice trembling.
The rogue leader smirked. "This is where we break you, little lamb. You wanted to escape? Well, now you'll work for us instead."
The guards forced her to her feet and dragged her toward the wheel. They secured her shackles to the spokes, her arms stretched painfully above her head.
"You'll be turning this wheel," the rogue leader explained, his tone almost casual. "Day and night. It powers the lower levels of the fortress. And if you don't… well, let's just say we have ways of encouraging obedience."
Mia glared at him, her jaw clenched. "You won't break me," she said, her voice steady despite the fear coursing through her veins.
The rogue leader chuckled. "We'll see about that."
He turned and left, the heavy door slamming shut behind him. The sound echoed through the chamber, sealing Mia's fate.
The hours blurred together as Mia worked tirelessly, her muscles burning with every turn of the wheel. The chains clinked softly with each movement, a constant reminder of her captivity.
Her body ached, her wrists raw from the iron shackles, but she refused to let herself break. Every turn of the wheel was a reminder of what she had lost—and what she still had to fight for.
As the days stretched into nights, Mia's determination only grew stronger. She didn't know how, but she would survive this. She would find a way to escape, no matter how impossible it seemed.
Because deep down, she knew one thing for certain: the rogues had underestimated her.
And they would regret it.