Avryn awoke to the sight of a dull grey area. A set of bars was facing him. He must had lost consciousness.

  “So, what are you in for?” a voice familiar to him sounded from another cell.

  Avryn got up and leaned on the bars. He finally saw the source of the voice.

  “Forban?” he asked.

  The man was caught by surprise.

  “Avryn, my boy? Is that really you?” he asked. “How’d you get mixed up into this?”

  Avryn gave him the short version as he explained himself. A couple of his friends went missing and he went to negotiate with Oliviere and did so successfully.

  “And you trust the man to keep his word in keeping those lady friends of yours safe?” Forban said.

  “I think he wants me specifically for something. That’s all I know,” Avryn replied. “But why are you here?”

  Forban went and explain to Avryn about what happened at Middsborough. People were taken in for some sort of experiment. The details of which Forban didn’t know. What he did knew was the people taken in never returned, so he was waiting here trying to get to the bottom of it. He was trapped just as Avryn was.

  Avryn then explained to him he also knew of the disappearances of the people. He recently went there only to see the town rebuilt and repurposed. He admitted he felt something, like a piece of him had gone missing that day. Forban shook his head.

  “You miss them, don’t you, boy?” he asked.

  Avryn sighed.

  “Maybe you’re right. Maybe.”

  They were interrupted by the opening of the doors. Oliviere had arrived, with Cody and Cory in tow. He had an ominous aura about him as he stood before Avryn.

  “This is your final chance. Join me, and we can change this world together,” he offered one last time.

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  It didn’t take long for Avryn to make a decision. Whatever his plans were, he didn’t want any of it, even if he knew. He stared right back at Oliviere.

  “No,” he said loud and clear.

  Oliviere sighed and gave a signal to Cody and Cory. They went inside the cell and cuffed Avryn. Avryn swore he could see Oliviere grinning from the corner of his eye as he was escorted to another room.

  “The hell are you taking him?” Forban balled his hands around the bars.

  “Hehe, you don’t want to know,” Cody snickered.

  “Trust us, you don’t,” Cory followed.

  Avryn was led to another room just nearby. He was given a second pair of cuffs after the first came off one of his hands. He was hanged by the hands as the twins left him with Oliviere.

  “You’re going to regret denying master Oliviere now,” Cody couldn’t contain his laughter.

  “Regret indeed,” Cory mimicked.

  Avryn knew what was coming. Torture, although it was a long time since, was something he was familiar with. Zartes used to do it to him all the time with every opportunity he could. Just as he was reminiscing, he felt a sharp pain on the left side of his ribcage. Oliviere had delivered a nasty punch there. Another punch landed right on the stomach. Avryn had to catch himself. He braced himself for the next hit but Oliviere knew what he was doing, so he did a feint and punched with unorthodox timing to catch Avryn off guard. It worked.

  “You made your bed,” he kneed him in the gut. “now lie in it.”

  The torture lasted for hours. Avryn lost count of time after hour six. Oliviere was thorough, almost surgical with his precise strikes. It was a masterclass in striking. Oliviere called up Cody and Cory. They send him back to his cell and gave him a bowl of gruel.

  “Argh, my everything,” Avryn clutched at his belly.

  “Resilient as ever, my boy. You’re still alive. Any lesser man would’ve perished,” Forban praised.

  “I’m not gonna die at the hands of a prick,” he replied.

  That was right. He remembered his vows. He needed to endure this. He also remembered his friends. They were waiting for him. He pulled himself together and slurped down the gruel. The last laugh would be his, at least at the end of this day.

  “Attaboy,” Forban encouraged.

  The beatings would continue for two weeks. Avryn willingly going down the cycle and for a moment, acclimated to the harsh environment. He caught up with Forban with everything during his down time. From his duel with Sir Iver, to his trials in Storia, and finally his missions in the Lost Lands, all were recounted for.

  “I’m glad a lot has happened for you, boy. Yes, it’s gone better than I had anticipated. You’re on your way to a great path,” Forban predicted.

  He started a coughing fit. Avryn asked what the matter was. Forban assured it was nothing but Avryn had a feeling something was up. Before he could think further, the opening of the doors interrupted their talk. A familiar sound: the sound of heavy armor clinking as the man who wore it walked. Avryn knew that specific sound. He got up and tried looking past the bars of his cell.

  He was face to face with Zartes, now a little older, with some greys in his hair. He looked down on Avryn. He sensed the familiar fire in his eyes. His eyes went further down as he observed the bruises that accumulated on his body. The corner of his lips slightly moved up to grin. The boy was resilient as ever. He then unlocked the cell with his key. He did the same with Forban’s cell. He was still trying to stifle his cough but to no avail. Zartes and him shared looks.

  He turned to Avryn and offered him a sword. Avryn looked at him all confused.

  “The hell’s this for? You trying to help us now after all you’ve done?” he said.

  His question was answered with silence. Zartes turned to Forban’s direction, then looked back at Avryn. Forban was coughing out blood now. Avryn moved to checked on him.

  “Forban, what’s happening? You’re bleeding, man,” Avryn asked.

  “It’s…nothing…” he continued to cough.

  Zartes left and closed the door shut. Avryn was confused by all this. He started banging on the door but it was locked. Forban was now screaming in pain, like all the muscles in his body was contracting at the same time. The pain was so excruciating he dropped dead for a second. Avryn ran back to him.

  “No, this wasn’t supposed to happen,” Avryn couldn’t believe his eyes.

  He looked to the sword and walked over to it, grasping it. He heard Forban’s voice, but this time with a more visceral, gargled tone. He was about to be in the fight of his life.