CHAPTER 11
Two weeks. That’s how long I’d been holed up in the Obsidian Knights‘ hidden basement, surrounded by people whose motives I couldn’t quite figure out. They worked like clockwork, always busy, always focused. Meanwhile, I lingered on the sidelines, trying–and failing–to find my place.
Today, I was at a desk, fingers hesitating over the keyboard. Sue’s voice cut through the hum of activity like a knife.
“Daphne, for the love of everything, focus,” she snapped, leaning over my shoulder. “You’ve got one job–hacking into this server. If you can’t handle it, then-”
“I got it,” I interrupted, even though the screen was blurring in front of me. Fighting the drowsiness creeping over me was a losing battle.
“You‘ re zoning out,” Sue pressed. “Do you
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even care about what we re doing?”
“I said I got it,” I muttered, my tone sharper than I intended.
“Enough,” Daniel’s calm but firm voice interrupted. He approached, placing a hand on my shoulder. “Daphne, take a break. Go lie down.”
Sue rolled her eyes, muttering something under her breath before storming off. I sighed heavily and pushed away from the desk, grateful for the reprieve.
“She’s not wrong, though,” I admitted quietly.
Daniel gave me a small, understanding smile. “Everyone has their moments. Go rest. We’ll handle this for now.”
I nodded, feeling a pang of guilt, and made my way to the sleeping area.
The room was dim, the air cool and still. I climbed onto the top bunk, where I shared the space with Chlyrus, who occupied the
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lower bed. Staring at the white ceiling above me, my mind wandered.
Could I keep living this life? Hiding from the world, away from the sun and fresh air, constantly looking over my shoulder? I‘ d felt trapped before, but this was different. Depression loomed over me, familiar yet more menacing than ever.
The Knights had their mission, their reasons for fighting. They wanted to right. wrongs, expose corruption, save lives. But me? I was fueled by revenge. I wasn‘ t a hero, and I didn’t want to be one. Yet, a small voice inside me whispered that maybe, just maybe, I could make a difference.
That thought carried me into sleep.
But the peace didn’t last long.
When I opened my eyes, I wasn‘ t in the basement anymore. Bars surrounded me, cold and unyielding. I was back in a cell- prison.
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Outside the bars, a crowd had gathered.
Their faces blurred, but their voices were sharp and cruel.
“Murderer!” one spat.
“Monster!” another shouted.
I turned, my heart sinking as I saw my mother among them. Her face was a mask of fury and disappointment.
“How could you do this?” she yelled.
“You‘ re no daughter of mine.”
“Mom, please,” I whispered, reaching out,
but she turned her back on me.
Then I saw him–the man I killed. He
emerged from the crowd, his eyes dark and unrelenting. He pointed at me, his arm steady, his finger curling around
something in his grasp.
“No,” I said, backing up until I hit the bars.
The sound was deafening.
I screamed, jolting awake.
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DO
My chest heaved as I tried to catch my breath, sweat dripping down my face. My hands were trembling so hard I couldn’t stop them.
“Daphne.”
I turned my head sharply, finding Calix sitting on the edge of my bunk, concern etched on his face.
“You were screaming,” he said softly, handing me a bottle of water.
I took it gratefully, my hands still unsteady as I twisted the cap. “It was just a
nightmare,” I mumbled.
Calix nodded, his expression solemn. “We all get them.”
I looked at him, surprised by the admission. “Even you?”
He smiled faintly, though there was no humor in it. “Especially me. Sleep isn’t peaceful for people like us. It’s when the worst of our memories come alive.”
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I took a sip of the water, letting his words. sink in. “What do you see?”
Calix’s gaze grew distant, his jaw tightening. “People I couldn’t save. Mistakes I made. Faces I’ll never forget.” He shook his head, forcing himself to meet my eyes. “But it’s normal, Daphne. You‘ re not alone in this.”
The kindness in his voice caught me off guard. I’d been so focused on keeping my walls up that I hadn’t realized how much I needed someone to say that.
“I don’t know if I can keep doing this,” I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper.
Calix leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “You can. You just have to decide what you‘ re fighting for. Once you figure that out, everything else falls into place.”
I stared at him, wanting to believe his words but feeling the weight of my doubts.
“Try to rest,” he said, standing up. “We‘ ve got a long road ahead.”
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As he left, I lay back down, the echoes of the nightmare still lingering. My heart was heavy, but Calix’s words stuck with me.
What was I fighting for?
I closed my eyes, determined to find the answer. But deep down, I knew it wouldn’t come easily.
