Chapter 12

Isolated on the uppermost floor of the main tower, the temperature dropped to a piercing cold. Time hung heavy, each second an eternity. Escape seemed as distant as the stars, for the fortress walls had become an impenetrable barrier. Still, in those fleeting moments, the desperate craving for the drug finally subsided.

How many days has it been.

This sensation is a chilling echo of the past. It was like reliving those endless nights in the old cellar, seeking solace in the darkness. The darkness remains, but now it is filled with a chilling solitude and an eerie quietude.

As slumber was creeping over, a sudden series of strange noises from outside startled me awake. My eyes flew open towards the window on the door, where a pair of obsidian orbs seemed to pierce the darkness. Heart pounding, my unsteady feet causing me to stumble into the iron door. Eric, he was here.

"Lia! Are you okay!?"

"What are you doing here!? How did you get past the guards?"

"Don't worry about that. I'm just glad to see you're alive. I brought you some bread."

With that, he tore the loaf into small pieces and pushed them through the narrow window. Taking each fragrant piece, I leaned back against the door and slowly brought it to my mouth. The rich butter, combined with the smell of freshly baked bread, made my stomach rumble with pleasure. It was a feast for my senses, a far cry from the food the soldiers had been giving me for the past few days.

''...Thank you...''

 "I've heard about what happened."

"...I understand you may find my decision foolish...Despite knowing the potential pitfalls, I remain steadfast in my resolve..."

"In recent days, rumors concerning this matter have proliferated rapidly within the military compound. You have been publicly denounced as a traitor, while I am suspected of collusion with you."

"...I deeply regret everything that has occurred. I am so sorry for bringing you into this. I just...All I was doing was..."

"Don't blame yourself."

"...I never intended to do anything to harm you....You...don't think I am a traitor, do you?"

The shame makes me choke. Hesitating, indecision clouding my mind, heart heavy with sorrow. Honestly, I don't blame him, because even in that situation, leaving suddenly like that. Perhaps anyone would be suspicious.

"No. You are not that kind of person. I was there with you. I saw the look in your eyes when we fought together, when you risked your life running to the wall to protect the main tower. A traitor could be anyone, but it won't be you. I know that in my heart."

"I'm truly sorry for leaving without a word. I know I was wrong to do that..."

''What really happened?''

His eyes, peering through the narrow window, flickered with uncertainty, as if the confusion within were mirrored on his face on the other side.

''Hey. It is going to be okay, you can trust me. We will get through this together.''

"...The Deputy Commander, he...forced me to do things against my will, threatening to harm me. I was left with no option but to comply...I was terrified, truly terrified..."

Froze, his eyes widening in disbelief. Words seemed to get stuck in his throat. Maybe now, he saw me as nothing more than a pitiful creature. But after all I had been through, this pain no longer mattered. A little more, a little more wouldn't hurt. Tipping on my toes, I reached up to him, like a withered flower yearning for sunlight. My trembling fingers brushed the cold iron door. Those eyes, once again, pleaded for his understanding.

"...Why didn't you ask for help?"

"From who?"

"From...from me, I could have helped you. Why didn't you say anything sooner?..."

"What could you have done?"

"I..."

"Perhaps...you are tired of hearing this. But I am truly sorry...sorry for not saying anything, sorry for always trying to pretend I was okay. You are the first real friend I have ever had, and I was afraid that if you knew about this, you would look down on me too...just like everyone else. I never wanted to be a burden to you. But in the end...I have ended up just being a failure who drags those I love down with me..."

It has always been like this. My arrival brought nothing but misfortune. My parents, they risked their lives to cross the border just for a better future for me. Dylan, the fire, it was all my fault for getting involved in illegal activities. Olivia, she still couldn't bear to abandon a beggar like me, even though her burden was already too much. And now, he, with his boundless kindness, is also caught up in my mess.

"...I didn't...I...I had no idea that such things were happening to you..."

"What difference would it make if I told you? We are just pawns in this game..."

"...I-I am so sorry..."

"...No...This isn't your fault. All of this..."

Not my fault. That is true. But wasn't I always there when those tragedies happened?

"You are not a traitor. I will defend you, it definitely wasn't you."

"I have confessed everything to the Commander..."

"Will he believe you?"

"Given the current evidence, it is difficult to make a definitive conclusion. However, he has agreed to look into it thoroughly."

"I guess that is the best we can hope for..."

"...Even if I am not a traitor, I will still have to face the consequences for being associated with that substance..."

There was a hint of fear in the tone, a touch of anger in the gaze. Without a word, it seemed the pain was spreading, heavy as stones weighing down on our chests.

"...The sentence is coming soon. Regardless...of what the final decision is, I hope you can forgive me for everything. Until this moment, you've still come here yourself to check on me. I know I don't deserve this but I'm really...really grateful for your kindness..."

"No, don't say that...Everything will be alright."

"It's not going to be alright."

Those eyes, like a stagnant pool of water, cold and still, searched for a glimmer of comfort. Yet deep down, I knew those hopes were but desperate illusions. Before the words could finish, the hurried footsteps of the guards echoed through the space.

''Don't give up''

With those words, he turned and left. I stood still with a heavy heart as he faded into the night. A vast emptiness, without a ripple.

.

"What kind of stupid game are you playing"

The cigarette smoldered, its smoke curling lazily, filling the room with a heavy, smoky haze. The fire in the hearth cast an eerie glow on the walls, illuminating the deep lines etched on his weary face. His eyes, sunken and lifeless, filled with weariness and disappointment, scanned the newspaper, each word a seeming curse upon himself.

"Foolish girl"

The cigarettes lay hidden in the small cabinet. His gaze lingered on the faded photograph, the foggy glass like a veil covering the past. The photo was torn diagonally, leaving only half of his face and a faint shadow of his old friend. The young man in the photo with a bright smile was now nothing but a ghost.

"Wildflowers bloom, yet the cure remains elusive. This empire and that damned drug are all a cruel joke."

He had only known that deadly flower as a lethal weapon, a cruel tool to end life. Unexpectedly, the cure to those wounds was in the hands of such a lowly creature. Now, the news had spread among the ranks, leaving him with little choice but to comply. It was laughable to think that those whips weren't enough to silence her.

Deputy Commander, that was his title. But who was he, really. The glamorous facade of a hero belied the savage heart of a bloodthirsty demon. Could it be that beneath all the atrocities, he was just another victim, corrupted by the horrors of 'war'. Since when had his mind become so clouded by the cravings of delusion.

Hallucination, a salvation or simply a curse.

The rusty hinges screeched in unison with the heavy footsteps as the rotten wooden door burst open. Before the Deputy Commander could react, he found himself facing a forest of gleaming blades. Heart hammered in his chest, his hands trembled as he raised them in surrender, his eyes darting around the room in panic. The silhouettes of the knights, cast by the flickering flames, seemed like grotesque shadows. Without a word, one knight lunged forward. A cold, iron grip seized his arm, his body went rigid and he was dragged down onto the cold stone floor.

"Secure the entire zone!"

"What is the meaning of this?!''

"You stand accused of the most vile and depraved acts. Tortured your soldiers for your own sick gratification and indulged in forbidden substances. Your actions are a betrayal of everything the military stands for and a stain on the honor of the empire."

"This is absurd! Release me immediately! I have never committed such crimes."

The room was a scene of utter devastation, things were strewn about haphazardly, every nook and cranny was ransacked, nothing was left. His eyes bulged with terror as he let out a blood-curdling scream. The weight of his crimes now cast a heavy shadow over him. It was a cruel irony. The power he had once wielded was now nothing but a cruel twist of fate.

"Captain! We found it!"

"You have all lost your minds!"

Taking the cigarette, the pharmacist lit it, watching as the smoke curled upward. Their eyes bored into it, nothing unusual. Forcing a smile, he tried to hide his panic, his disheveled state was a stark contrast to his usual composure as he knelt on the cold, hard floor.

"It's only a cigarette, for crying out loud!"

 "Sir, with all due respect, I must inform you that this is opium, morphine. A highly addictive drug."

''Bullshit!''

Crushing out the cigarette, the pharmacist pinched the remaining butt between his fingers and snapped it in two. The rice paper crumbled, exposing a stash of pristine white granules that shimmered in the dim light.

''This cigarette doesn't have any distinctive scent. Are you implying that someone of your standing would resort to such inferior products? It doesn't quite fit your reputation.''

"I rolled this myself! What's the problem with that?!"

The absurd words echoed in his ears. The Captain's eyes narrowed, his gaze drilling into the kneeling man. Stepping forward, he paused, his polished shoes making a crisp sound against the ground. His patience, like a taut string, was reaching its limit.

"You can stop this pathetic act now."

"...C-Commander..."

"You tower over others yet your perspective is so limited. Your arrogance knows no bounds and you abuse your power with impunity."

''N-no, please...I beg you...''

He was stunned, his gaze fixed on the dancing flames. His face drained of color as his eyes widened and fell to the floor. He had grossly underestimated this creature. Turned out that when cornered, it wouldn't just stand there and take it, even knowing it would pay for its crimes.

Those who harbor such savage intentions, do they ever regret their past?