The pit was suffocating, its walls slick with grime that clung to every surface. The air was thick and heavy, a stifling mix of dirt, sweat, and despair. It pressed down on Mia like an invisible weight, making every breath feel like a struggle. The sun, high overhead, offered no comfort, its heat only baking the stone walls and intensifying the misery.
Mia's body screamed in protest as she hauled another bucket of stones across the uneven ground. Her hands were raw, her fingers blistered from the coarse rope handles that bit into her skin. Each step felt like a battle, her legs trembling under the relentless strain. She had long since stopped feeling hunger or thirst; her body had grown numb to those needs. But exhaustion was a constant companion, whispering in her ear to stop, to collapse, to give in.
She didn't. She couldn't.
Kael's guards stalked the edges of the pit like predators, their sharp eyes scanning for any sign of weakness. The crack of a whip echoed periodically, a harsh reminder of what happened to those who faltered. Mia had seen it too many times—the way the guards would lash out at prisoners without hesitation, their faces twisted in cruelty. She had learned to keep her head down, to move steadily and without complaint, even when her body begged for rest.
The other prisoners were little more than husks of people, their spirits long broken by the endless toil and brutality. They moved like ghosts, their faces hollow, their eyes dull. Mia refused to let herself become one of them. She clung to the faintest spark of defiance, a stubborn refusal to let the rogues strip her of her will.
Serena's voice from the night before lingered in her mind. _There's a way out of this place—but it's dangerous._ The words had been a lifeline, a flicker of hope in the suffocating darkness. But the risks terrified her. She had seen what happened to those who tried to escape. The guards' punishments were swift and merciless, leaving broken bodies as warnings to the others.
Even so, the idea of freedom was intoxicating. It called to her, a soft whisper against the roar of her fear. She couldn't stay here forever. She had to find a way out.
The sun had reached its peak when Mia's body finally betrayed her. She stumbled under the weight of the stones she carried, her knees buckling as she crashed to the ground. The bucket spilled beside her, its contents scattering across the dirt.
"Get up!" one of the guards barked, his voice sharp and filled with menace.
Mia pressed her palms against the ground, trying to push herself up, but her arms trembled and gave out. Her vision blurred, and for a moment, she thought she might pass out.
The guard's boots crunched against the dirt as he approached. The whip in his hand uncoiled with a menacing hiss. "I said, get up!"
Mia braced herself for the strike, her body tensing in anticipation of the pain. But before the whip could fall, a voice rang out.
"Enough."
The guard froze, turning to face Serena. Her tone was calm but firm, her eyes hard as she met his gaze.
"She's been working harder than anyone here," Serena said, her voice steady. "Give her a moment to recover."
The guard hesitated, his grip on the whip tightening. For a moment, it seemed he might defy her. But Serena's authority was undeniable, and after a tense pause, he stepped back with a muttered curse.
Serena knelt beside Mia, her expression softening as she helped her sit up. "You're pushing yourself too hard," she murmured.
Mia's voice was barely audible. "I don't have a choice."
"You do," Serena replied, her tone gentle but insistent. "But you need to take care of yourself first. You can't fight for your freedom if you collapse before you get the chance."
Mia's gaze flickered to Serena, a faint glimmer of gratitude breaking through her exhaustion. She didn't fully trust her yet, but Serena's kindness was undeniable.
The hours dragged on, each moment a test of endurance. Mia forced herself to keep moving, her body heavy with fatigue but her will unbroken. She had survived worse. She could survive this.
When the sun finally dipped below the horizon, the guards herded the prisoners back to their quarters. Mia collapsed onto the hard floor, her breathing ragged as she tried to recover. The other prisoners barely noticed her—they were too consumed by their own misery.
Serena appeared again, her expression unreadable as she approached Mia. She crouched beside her, lowering her voice so only Mia could hear. "Have you thought about what I said?"
Mia nodded weakly, her mind racing. She knew Serena was right. She couldn't stay here forever. But the thought of escape was terrifying. The risk of failure loomed large, and the consequences would be brutal.
"I'm scared," Mia admitted, her voice trembling.
Serena placed a hand on her shoulder, her grip firm but reassuring. "Fear is normal. It means you understand the stakes. But don't let it stop you. You're stronger than you think, Mia. You've survived this long. You can survive what comes next."
Mia looked into Serena's eyes, searching for any sign of deceit, but found none. For the first time in a long time, she allowed herself to believe in the possibility of freedom.
"I'll do it," she said quietly, her voice steady despite the fear in her chest. "I'll fight."
Serena's lips curved into a small, approving smile. "Good. Rest tonight. Tomorrow, we'll start preparing."
As Serena stood and walked away, Mia leaned back against the cold stone wall, her thoughts swirling. The spark of hope Serena had ignited was now a flame, burning brighter with each passing moment.
She didn't know what the future held, but for the first time, she felt a glimmer of control. She would escape this pit. She would reclaim her life.
And she would never let anyone take it from her again.