Chapter Text
I stared into the void for what felt like the thousandth time, the same scene staring back at me. A dark and gloomy room where cold drafts of air passed through the bars, the floor damp from water dripping from the ceiling, making a constant, immutable sound that pierced my ears and kept me awake. The occasional groan of pain or the crying of children could also be heard, children who, like me, were trapped here. Their faces were extremely thin, the result of clear malnutrition, their dark circles revealing days without sleep, their small bodies huddled together, trying to find the warmth they so desperately needed. The stench of the room was putrid, caused by human waste left uncleaned on the floor.
Suddenly, I felt something tugging at my shirt, interrupting my trance. I looked to the right and saw Kieran, who seemed to have just woken up, clutching my shirt to get my attention. His face, like mine and all the other children in this room, bore clear signs of malnutrition. His brown eyes, like old wood, looked at me tiredly, blinking slowly. He seemed unable to sleep, just like me. His hair, now too long, was starting to cover his eyes. He brushed it aside and said.
-“Selene, were you able to sleep at all?”
I shook my head.
- “Me neither. I feel like the sound of the drops falling from the ceiling is going to drive me insane at this rate.”
His tone was clearly unsettled. He brushed his hair away again and sighed.
- “Do you want me to help?”
I pointed at his hair, which he had already brushed aside three times. He nodded. Seeing his response, I dragged myself with the little strength I had, grabbed a shard of a broken plate from the floor, and approached him again. I began cutting his hair with the sharp edge. It might not look perfect, but it was the only way with the few resources we had in this small room. Once finished, I handed him the shard so he could help cut mine. He took it and delicately began cutting strand by strand, leaving hazelnut‑blonde hair scattered on the floor. When my hair no longer reached past my ears, he stopped and said.
- “The guards should be arriving soon. Remember, don’t say a word. The worst thing we can do is draw attention—it will only make escaping later much harder.”
He spoke coldly, though his caring gaze betrayed him.
- “These bastards are cunning. They act more cautiously because they know we’re Synners. But don’t worry—if anything goes wrong, I’ll protect you.”
I was about to answer when a piercing shout interrupted me. It was the guards.
- “Up, you beggars! I don’t have all day!”
He shouted imposingly, striking the bars to make it clear we should hurry.
Kieran stood up and extended his hand to help me. I took it and, with the little energy I had left, managed to stand. Once everyone was up, the guard, holding a pistol in one hand and a key in the other, opened the barred door.
- “One by one, or I’ll blow your heads off, bastards.”
He announced dangerously, adding:
- “I don’t think you want to end up like the last one.”
The atmosphere was heavy as we lined up to leave, the guard handcuffing us one by one to a long chain to prevent escape. Kieran went ahead of me in case something happened and he needed to protect me. I would like to say it wasn’t necessary, but I barely had the strength to stand, let alone defend myself. After chaining Kieran, it was my turn. I stepped into the hallway and raised my hands. The guard cuffed me, the cold metal tightening around my wrists, making them feel heavier. I struggled forward toward Kieran, who looked at me worriedly. I nodded to show I was fine. He kept looking at me for a moment, then smiled.
- “Move it!”
The guard shouted impatiently, tugging the chain and forcing us to follow him.
As we advanced down the long hallway, I looked around. There seemed to be more cages like ours, filled with children. Some lay on the floor, resigned, waiting for the sweet release of death. Others looked at us curiously, while others glared at the guard with hatred. Judging by their physical condition, they were enduring the same as us, though some seemed to have been here longer, their bodies more like skeletons than humans. Who would believe these children were Synners, those with abilities beyond human, now reduced to mere slaves awaiting auction?
Kieran and I had been fleeing through the streets of Velkaran’s capital when we were captured. I still cannot use my ability, and Kieran, despite his destructive strength, couldn’t defeat them while protecting me. That was a week ago. Since then, we’ve been locked in one of these cages, surviving on scraps thrown through the bars. And now, I suppose we’re about to become the next lot sold. A Synner doesn’t have many options in a country like Velkaran: either work like a dog for the government or be executed. That’s why many flee, as Kieran and I tried. The problem is that there are also organizations dedicated to capturing runaway Synners to sell them as merchandise on the black market.
Finally, we reached the end of the hallway. A large wooden door with metal edges loomed before us. The guard looked back, probably to check if we were all present. Once confirmed, he turned and opened the door. Our next nightmare waiting outside.