Chapter 2

Syn's eyes fluttered open, his vision blurred as if waking from a deep, foggy slumber. Blinking a few times, his surroundings slowly became clearer. He was lying on something soft—a bed. A real bed. The sensation was unmistakable.

For a moment, his mind tricked him into thinking he had simply woken up from a nightmare, safe in his own quarters. But the ghostly remnants of pain on his back told a different story. That taser... it had felt so real. He could still feel the sting radiating through his spine. Stretching his arms, he sat up and inhaled deeply, trying to ground himself in reality.

Something felt... off.

His fingers ran over his face, feeling the familiar contours of his cheekbones, nose, and jaw. Then he looked down at himself. His torn uniform was gone, replaced with something more comfortable—casual, even. A soft, loose-fitting shirt and dark pants that fit him surprisingly well. His heart pounded as he swung his legs over the side of the bed.

And that was when he saw it.

His name. "Syn Kocrn."

The words were carved into the leg of the bed, clear as day. His breath hitched. This was his bed—his actual bed from his quarters on his ship. How had it gotten here? Where was he?

Slapping himself, he winced. It hurt. This wasn't a dream.

He looked up again, his gaze sweeping across the enormous room. He was inside some kind of forcefield, a shimmering barrier enclosing his small space. Beyond it, he could see the rest of the room—massive, luxurious, and unsettling. A towering red bed with thick curtains, a grand window revealing nothing but empty space and stars beyond. No planets, no ships, just the abyss.

And then, his eyes landed on her.

A woman stood just beyond the forcefield, smirking at him. She had long, wavy purple hair that cascaded over her shoulders, and her golden eyes gleamed with something unreadable.

The pirate.

His blood boiled. "What the hell is this?!" Syn yelled, jumping to his feet. His fists clenched. "Let me out of here! What kind of sick joke is this?"

He barely remembered what had happened before blacking out. He had tried to slip away, hiding in the shadows when he heard that a quarter of their soldiers were being taken prisoner. He thought he had escaped. Clearly, he had failed.

He gritted his teeth. "Where are the others? My crew—what have you done to them?"

The pirate chuckled, her voice smooth and teasing. "Oh, don't worry about them." She waved her hand dismissively. "They're safe. Well, rotting in prison, but alive."

Syn's stomach twisted. "You—"

"But enough about them." She took a step closer, her boots clicking against the floor. "Tell me, what's your name?"

Syn narrowed his eyes. "Why are you smiling? I don't understand—what am I doing here? Why is my bed here? Why am I in this room instead of the prison?" He threw out questions faster than he could process them.

The woman lifted a slender finger, silencing him. "All in due time." She tilted her head, her smirk never faltering. "But for now, just answer my question."

Syn exhaled sharply. "Nick… Nick Tovol."

The pirate woman's golden eyes gleamed with amusement. "Hmm…" She tapped her chin, pretending to consider his answer. "You're still such a good liar. Very convincing."

His stomach dropped. The way she said it—it was as if she already knew him.

His heart pounded in his chest. "Who… are you?"

The woman's smirk deepened. She took another step closer, placing her palm against the forcefield. Syn flinched.

"Why don't you tell me, Syn?"

The way she said his name made his blood run cold. She knew. She had always known.

A mark. His eyes locked onto the center of her palm, where a familiar spade-shaped tattoo resided. His breath hitched as memories rushed back like a floodgate breaking open.

Purple hair. That tattoo. That smirk.

"Vera…" He whispered, his eyes widening.

The woman—no, Vera—grinned, her expression a mix of delight and something far more unnerving. "So, you do remember me."

Syn's mind reeled. It had been years since he last saw her, years since he had left that life behind. But she had changed. She wasn't the girl he remembered. She was taller, curvier, more refined—but more than anything, there was something in her eyes that made his skin crawl.

Madness.

He took a step back, pressing himself against the wall behind him. "What do you want?" His voice was barely above a whisper.

Vera's eyes darkened. "You."

The word sent a chill down his spine.

She giggled softly, but there was something sinister underneath. "It's been a long time, hasn't it, Syn?"

"Is this some kind of joke?" He tried to keep his voice steady, but his hands curled into fists. "Why are you doing this? What do you want from me?"

Vera leaned against the forcefield, her smirk never fading. "You'll figure it out soon enough."

Syn's patience snapped. "Enough games, Vera!" He glared at her. "Tell me why you've brought me here. Why am I in this ridiculous setup while the others rot in prison?"

She chuckled, folding her arms. "Oh, you always were so impatient."

Then, she did something unexpected. She reached into her shirt—deeper into her cleavage—and pulled out a small, white piece of paper.

Syn's breath caught.

She held it between her fingers, waving it in front of him teasingly. "You remember this, don't you?"

His blood ran cold.

He did.

"Yes…" he answered, his tone turning serious.

It was an old contract—a stupid piece of paper from years ago. 

It was a birthday present Vera had given him long ago. A promise. A contract stating that she would do anything he asked.

And she wasn't the only one who signed it.

Aster. Pako. They had signed it too, insisting on being part of the game so they wouldn't be left out. It was just a meaningless piece of paper back then.

But now…

Now it was in Vera's hands.

And judging by the wicked gleam in her eyes, she had no intention of treating it as a joke anymore.

Syn swallowed hard. This wasn't just about old friends reuniting.

This was something far more dangerous.

Vera hadn't captured him by chance.

She had been waiting for him.

And whatever twisted plan she had in mind…

It had only just begun.