The Imprisoned Man

"Promises, promises…" I trailed off. His lips were so close to my own. I took a deep breath and leaned forward, pressing my kiss to his lips. I felt him stiffen, his grip on me tighten, before he pulled me closer. I felt his heat envelop me as his arms came around me. I gripped the towel tightly around me with one hand, the other rested on his chest.

He deepened the kiss, leaning me back against the shower door and placing one palm against the wall beside me. My curves pressed against his chest. His free hand trailed down my side, and his warm hand rested against my hip.

The door of the shower stall gave way behind me, and we both fell in. My arm whacked the faucet handle and cold water poured down on us. I squealed and Vane shouted. We fell to the floor in a tangle of limbs, I barely held my towel in place. 

Suddenly realizing our proximity and my lack of clothing, my cheeks heated. Vane and my gaze met beneath the cold spray, we both tilted our heads back and laughed. We stepped from the shower, his once pristine formal wear dripping and sopping wet. Puddles formed on the bathroom floor.

"I'd better get ready…" I trailed off, my cheeks blushing. Vane nodded and stood. He turned around and made for the door. He paused with his hand on the knob, his lips quirked in a mischievous smirk.

"I don't want to get water all over your floor." He said innocently, and lifted the hem of his formal tunic, revealing a broad muscular tanned chest. His chiselled features were prominent, and his biceps bulged. My jaw dropped. I blushed profusely and spun around on my heel to face away from him. I placed my hands against my cheeks.

His laugh followed me, and I heard him walk out and close the door behind him. I sighed. My heart raced in my chest. I walked over to the rack on the wall and picked up a dry towel and began to get ready.

When I emerged later, Vane was nowhere to be found. Aine was lounging on the couch in the living room, one leg propped up on the arm. She waved when I walked into the room.

"Vane had to log out, he said he'd be back soon." She shrugged. I nodded. It was getting late in the evening; I wasn't surprised it was time for him to return to the real world. I hoped he checked on the live streams and betting pools going on on that side. 

I picked Axel's journal up off of the table and bid Aine goodnight. I wandered into my bedroom and sat on the bed, I stared out the large window at the nearly full moon shining in the sky. I sighed, leaning back against my pillows, I ran my fingers through my hair. 

I propped the book up on my knees, which were folded up, I opened the fraying material to the earlier pages. The pages were crinkled and well-worn, like he had flipped through the pages many times. I imagined him leaning over his book, writing his thoughts. I felt like I was invading his mind. I flipped it open.

November 13th, 2156

She's gone. It's over. A young life snuffed out before it could even begin. And I couldn't be there. Every day I stare at the mouldy walls of this cell, count the bricks in the floor, the decrepit filth that surrounds me, and I wait. I wait for this all to be over. What do I have left to live for? Remy…I'm sorry Remy. I will rot in this place, a forgotten corpse among the many. I couldn't save you, but if I ever get out of here. I will avenge you.

I looked up from the page. He was in prison, and someone died? Remy… his lover? Daughter? Young life implies that she is maybe a child. I flipped forward a few pages.

November 27th, 2156

A man came by today. Alexander was his name. He was spouting some bullshit about an experiment. A proposition for me, he said he had. What a load of shit. I don't know what its about, but I don't know if I want any part of it. The man rubs me the wrong way. He claims there's a way for me to see my Remy again. Load of shit. No one can bring back the dead, can they? I asked what he wanted from me, and all he said was my soul.

December 1, 2156

This Alexander fellow keeps coming back. He's told me about this world he's created — Aether. A virtual world where the rules of the game are different than the real world. Power, glory, adventure, all at my fingertips. He needs a man on the inside, he's running an experiment, putting people in the game, live streaming it for the masses. The winners who clear the game will get life back — so he says. How can one return the dead? He needs someone inside to manipulate the live streams, drive the players to fight. I asked why he wanted me, and at least he was honest. He said he needed someone who knew what they were doing, someone no one would miss or look for. He needed someone with something to fight for. He promised me I could see Remy again. I asked him what the catch was, why he didn't hire one of the other criminals he has employed in the game. He looked me in my eyes and said, "I need someone willing to die." 

December 24th, 2156

Merry Christmas to me. Alone in this cell, staring at the rats as they scurry up and down the hall. My first Christmas alone, without Remy. I've decided I'm going to take the deal. What do I have left to live for in this world anymore? If I can have a chance, as crazy as it sounds… its better than staying here. Let's see what this new world has to offer me. Alexander is coming to get me tomorrow.

I closed the book and stared once again out the open window. Axel came into the game in the hopes of reuniting with this Remy character. Kaillean Alexander sent him in here to manipulate the game. How did that end up with them killing Lost Souls? And this means that Axel is a Lost Soul himself? No wonder I had never seen him log out. 

There was so much more to learn, but my eyes were drifting shut. I placed the book on the bedside table and lie back. I closed my eyes and slowly drifted off to sleep.