The Mysterious Visitor

The first rays of the sun crept into my cell, casting a sliver of light across the cold, damp stone floor. I blinked against the sudden brightness, struggling to remember how long I had been here. Days, weeks, months? Time had lost all meaning in this place. My stomach growled loudly, reminding me that I hadn't eaten in what felt like an eternity.

"Hey! I'm hungry!" I called out to the guards stationed outside my cell. The two demons were hulking brutes, their skin a mottled shade of crimson and their eyes glowing an unsettling yellow. They wore armor made of dark, enchanted metal, and their fangs protruded menacingly from their mouths.

The taller of the two, a particularly cruel demon named Krag, turned to me with a sneer. "Hungry, are you? Well, maybe if you beg, we might consider it."

His companion, a squat, stocky demon named Drak, laughed, a harsh, grating sound. "Yeah, beg for it, princess."

I clenched my fists, anger bubbling up inside me. "I won't beg," I spat. "Just give me some food."

Krag grinned maliciously. "Suit yourself." He picked up a bucket of water, and for a moment, I thought he might actually give me something to drink. But then he tossed it through the bars, dousing me in cold, dirty water. The two demons roared with laughter as I sputtered and tried to wipe the grime from my face.

"Enjoy your meal, princess," Drak jeered. They laughed even harder, the sound echoing through the dungeon.

I shivered, both from the cold and the humiliation. Just as I was about to retreat to the far corner of my cell, the door to the dungeon creaked open. The guards immediately stopped laughing and snapped to attention.

A figure in a dark cloak stepped into the dungeon, the hood pulled low to obscure their face. The air seemed to grow colder, and the guards exchanged nervous glances.

"Who's there?" Krag demanded, his bravado faltering.

The cloaked figure didn't respond. Instead, they moved with a swift, fluid grace, closing the distance between themselves and the guards in an instant. Before Krag or Drak could react, the figure struck.

A powerful kick sent Krag crashing into the wall, where he slumped, unconscious. Drak barely had time to draw his weapon before a sharp blow to his head knocked him out cold.

I watched in stunned silence, my heart racing. Who was this person, and why were they here? The cloaked stranger turned towards me, and I tensed, ready for anything.

They reached into the folds of their cloak and pulled out a tray of food. The sight of it made my mouth water instantly. Fresh bread, slices of roasted meat, an assortment of cheeses, and even a small bowl of fruit. My stomach growled even louder.

"Here is some food for you," the stranger said, their voice calm and soothing. They knelt and opened the small hatch at the bottom of my cell door, sliding the tray through.

I hesitated, my mind racing with questions and suspicions. "Why are you doing this? How do I know it's not poisoned?"

Without a word, the stranger picked up a piece of bread, took a bite, and chewed slowly before swallowing. "It's not poisoned. Please eat."

I eyed them warily but couldn't resist the smell of the food any longer. I reached out, grabbed a piece of meat, and took a cautious bite. The flavor exploded in my mouth, rich and savory. I devoured the food with a hunger I hadn't realized I possessed, savoring every bite.

As I ate, I glanced up at the stranger. There was something familiar about their presence, an aura that reminded me of someone, but I couldn't quite place it. I didn't know who they were, but in this moment, I didn't care. The food was too good, and my hunger was too great.

After finishing the meal, I leaned back against the wall, feeling more satisfied than I had in a long time. The stranger watched me silently, their face still hidden in the shadows of the cloak.

"I miss Jade so much," I murmured, the words slipping out before I could stop them.

The stranger's posture stiffened, and I saw a flash of something—anger, perhaps—in their hidden eyes. They stood abruptly, turning to leave.

"Wait," I called out, but they were already moving away, disappearing back into the shadows from which they had come.

I stared after them, bewildered by their sudden departure. Something about the encounter felt strange, but I was too exhausted to dwell on it. I lay back down on the cold stone floor, my mind drifting back to memories of Jade.

The pain of her loss was a constant ache, but for the first time in a long while, I felt a small flicker of hope. Maybe, just maybe, I wasn't as alone as I had thought.

The hours passed slowly, the light from the sun eventually fading into the dim glow of the dungeon torches. I couldn't shake the feeling of familiarity that had lingered around the cloaked stranger. Their demeanor, their movements—it all reminded me of someone I should know.

As I settled back into the harsh reality of my imprisonment, my thoughts continued to circle back to the mysterious visitor. Who were they? And why did they care enough to bring me food? The guards remained unconscious, a testament to the stranger's strength and skill.

I closed my eyes, allowing my mind to wander through the labyrinth of memories. Jade's laughter, her touch, her final moments. The agony of watching her die still burned within me, a wound that refused to heal.

A sudden noise jolted me from my thoughts. The guards were stirring, groaning as they slowly regained consciousness. Krag sat up, rubbing his head and glaring at me with a mixture of anger and confusion.

"What happened?" he growled, his eyes narrowing.

"You were attacked," I replied simply, not bothering to hide my satisfaction.

Drak cursed under his breath, struggling to his feet. "By who?"

I shrugged, feigning ignorance. "Someone in a cloak. They were too fast for me to see clearly."

The guards exchanged a wary glance, clearly unsettled by the encounter. They grumbled and muttered amongst themselves, but there was nothing they could do. The damage had been done, and the mystery of the cloaked stranger remained.

As the night wore on, I found myself clinging to the hope that the stranger would return. I needed answers, and more than that, I needed to understand why they had helped me. The aura of familiarity still lingered in my mind, a tantalizing clue that I couldn't quite grasp.