Silence pressed in around her.
Eira hadn't moved since he left.
Not because she couldn't.
Because she didn't know what would happen if she did.
Her chest rose and fell unevenly, her thoughts tangled in fear, anger, and something she refused to name.
You belong to this place now.
"No…"
The word slipped out under her breath.
Weak.
Unconvincing.
Her hands clenched into fists.
"I don't."
The room didn't respond.
Of course it didn't.
Slowly, cautiously, Eira took a step forward.
Nothing happened.
Another step.
Still nothing.
Her brows pulled together.
So… he wasn't watching?
Hope flickered.
Dangerous.
Fragile.
She turned toward the wall—the one that had dissolved when he entered.
"There has to be a way…"
Her fingers brushed the surface.
Cold.
Smooth.
Seamless.
No handle.
No crack.
Nothing.
Eira pressed harder, running her hands along it, searching.
"Come on… come on…"
Her breathing quickened.
There had to be something.
A weakness.
A flaw.
She refused to believe this place was perfect.
Her hand slammed against the wall.
"Open!"
Nothing.
Frustration surged through her.
"OPEN!"
Still nothing.
Her chest tightened, panic rising again.
"No… no, no, no…"
She stepped back, shaking her head.
Think.
There had to be another way.
Her gaze darted around the room.
The bed.
The glowing walls.
The empty space.
No windows.
No exits.
A cage.
Her heart started pounding again.
"No…"
She moved faster this time, circling the room, pressing against every surface, searching desperately.
Nothing.
Nothing.
Nothing.
Her breathing turned ragged.
"This can't be real…"
She slammed her fist into the wall again.
Pain shot up her arm.
Good.
At least she could still feel something.
"You don't get to keep me here!"
Her voice echoed slightly—
Then—
The air shifted.
Eira froze.
That feeling again.
Heavy.
Watching.
Her stomach dropped.
Slowly—
She turned around.
He was there.
Rhaekon Virel.
Standing exactly where he had before.
Silent.
Still.
Her pulse spiked instantly.
"How long have you been standing there?"
No answer.
Of course.
Her jaw tightened.
"I'm leaving."
The words came out stronger this time.
More certain.
A mistake.
Rhaekon tilted his head slightly.
Not confused.
Observing.
"You attempted that already."
Her hands clenched.
"I wasn't serious before."
A lie.
Even she knew it.
But she stepped forward anyway.
One step.
Then another.
Walking straight toward him.
If he thought she was afraid—
She would prove him wrong.
Eira lifted her chin.
"I'm walking out."
Silence.
Then—
She passed him.
Or tried to.
The moment she reached his side—
Her body stopped.
Completely.
Mid-step.
Frozen.
Her breath hitched in panic.
Not again.
Not like this.
"What—!"
Nothing moved.
Nothing responded.
Not her arms.
Not her legs.
Not even her voice after that first sound.
Only her heartbeat.
Loud.
Wild.
Fear crawled up her spine.
Slowly—
Rhaekon turned.
His gaze settled on her again.
Unmoved.
Unimpressed.
"You continue to resist."
Her mind screamed at her body to move.
To fight.
To do something.
Nothing happened.
Panic surged.
"What are you doing to me?!"
The words came out this time—but barely.
Controlled.
Like even her voice wasn't fully hers.
Rhaekon stepped closer.
Each step felt heavier than the last.
"You are out of place."
Her breath shook.
"I'm not—"
"You are."
Final.
He stopped in front of her.
Close enough that she could see the faint glow beneath his skin.
The unnatural stillness of him.
"You do not understand this world."
Her heart pounded.
"Then explain it!"
A pause.
Not long.
But enough.
"For you to survive here…"
His hand lifted slowly.
Eira's body tensed instinctively.
Even though she couldn't move.
"…you will obey."
Her stomach twisted.
"No."
The word slipped out before she could stop it.
A mistake.
That glowing eye flickered.
And suddenly—
The pressure increased.
Crushing.
Eira gasped.
Her body was forced down.
Her knees hit the ground hard.
Pain shot through her—but she barely registered it.
The force holding her was too much.
Too overwhelming.
Her hands slammed against the floor, unable to push herself up.
Her breathing turned shallow.
"Stop…"
Her voice trembled.
Rhaekon looked down at her.
Unmoved.
"You resist what keeps you alive."
Her nails dug into the surface beneath her.
"I don't need you—"
The pressure increased.
Her body dropped lower.
Her forehead nearly hit the ground.
A strangled breath left her.
"Y-you're hurting me—"
"Incorrect."
His voice remained calm.
"I am preventing your death."
Her mind spun.
Nothing made sense.
Nothing felt real.
"Then let me go!"
Silence.
Then—
The pressure vanished.
Instantly.
Eira collapsed forward, catching herself just in time.
She gasped for air, her body trembling uncontrollably.
Freedom.
But it didn't feel like it.
It felt like something had just decided to let her breathe.
Slowly—
She looked up at him.
Hatred burned in her eyes.
"I'm not obeying you."
Rhaekon didn't react immediately.
Then—
He crouched in front of her.
Bringing himself to her level.
That alone felt wrong.
Like something powerful lowering itself by choice.
"You already are."
Her breath caught.
"I'm not—"
"You remain here."
Her words died in her throat.
"You breathe when I allow it."
Her chest tightened.
"You move when I permit it."
Her fingers curled weakly.
"You speak because I have not taken it from you."
Silence crashed down around her.
Eira's heart pounded violently.
"You think resistance is control."
His gaze locked onto hers.
"It is not."
Her breath trembled.
"It is permission."
Something inside her cracked.
Just slightly.
Barely noticeable.
But real.
Rhaekon reached out again.
Eira flinched—
But didn't move away.
She couldn't.
His fingers brushed her chin.
Lifting her gaze.
"For now… I allow it."
Her lips parted slightly.
Confusion.
Fear.
Anger.
All tangled together.
"But you will learn."
His voice lowered.
Not louder.
More certain.
"Obedience is not optional."
A shiver ran through her.
Not from the cold.
From the truth behind his words.
He stood.
The pressure eased again.
But it didn't disappear.
It never did.
Before leaving—
He looked down at her one last time.
"Next time…"
The air grew heavier again.
"…I will not be as patient."
The wall dissolved behind him.
And just like that—
He was gone.
Leaving her there.
On her knees.
Breathing hard.
Shaking.
Eira stared at the floor.
Her hands trembled.
Her chest ached.
"I won't…"
Her voice was barely there.
"I won't obey…"
But even as she said it—
Her body remained exactly where it was.
Like it already knew the truth.