Episode 59 — Break and Breach
Night had settled like a bruise over the hidden cell, walls damp with old rain and older blood. Raian crouched by the grate, every breath scraping raw against cracked ribs. The thin blade in his hand felt almost laughable — barely steel, barely hope — yet it burned hotter in his chest than pain itself.
Outside the cell, footsteps echoed — the young guard, breath quick with terror. He paused, glancing over his shoulder, then slid the key across the stones. "Now," he rasped, voice brittle with fear. "I can't stay."
Raian's fingers closed over cold iron, a spark of savage gratitude in his eyes. "You've done enough," he whispered, voice rough as gravel.
The guard turned to flee, boots slipping on wet stone. Raian forced his aching body forward, every step a battle between will and agony.
The lock clanked open, hinges groaning like old ghosts. Beyond lay darkness — and beyond that, blood and promise.
I'm coming, Aria, he vowed. Just hold on.
---
In the ruin, rain dripped through shattered beams, falling onto stone slick with blood. Aria lay half-conscious, every breath a raw burn in her chest. Saira knelt beside her, hands pressed to the wound, whispering curses that were half-prayer, half-rage.
"Stay awake," Saira rasped, voice cracking. "You don't get to die, not now."
"I… can't…" Aria whispered, words trembling on blue-tinged lips. "So cold…"
"Then remember him," Saira hissed, tears hot on scarred cheeks. "Remember why you kept breathing this long."
Through the haze, Aria saw his face — storm-grey eyes, the weight of his scars, the way his voice softened only for her. And in that moment, something deep inside refused to let go.
---
Outside, Malik's men spread through ruined streets, blades catching glimmers of dawn. The captain stepped over broken stone, eyes hard as iron. "Find the doctor," he ordered, voice low. "She breathes, we take her. She bleeds out, bring me the body."
Behind him, the girl with the rose tattoo lay still — eyes open to nothing, throat painted red. Betrayal had cost her everything, and Malik's promise had ended as they all did — in blood.
---
Raian moved through darkness, ribs screaming, every breath a ragged oath. Twice he stumbled, fingers slipping on wet stone, but fury kept him standing. Fury — and the memory of her voice saying his name.
He found the outer hall, shadows moving ahead — guards. Too many to fight head-on.
His gaze fell on an old chain anchoring broken crates. Quiet as a memory, he wrapped it around his forearm, blade gripped tight in the other hand.
Not a soldier tonight, he thought, breath harsh. A shadow.
---
The first guard turned just as Raian moved. Chain snapped across his throat, dragging him down into silence. Another swung a blade, but Raian twisted, agony blooming through torn ribs. His blade found flesh — hot blood spilled across cold stone.
For a moment, only breath and heartbeat filled the corridor. Raian leaned against the wall, chest heaving. "Just a little farther," he rasped.
---
In the ruin, Saira dragged Aria toward the back wall, ignoring the ache screaming through her old wounds. Outside, boots struck stone — closer, relentless.
"Help me," Saira snarled to the others, voice sharp enough to cut. Two young men — barely more than boys — grabbed Aria's arms, lifting her limp form.
"Don't look at her face," Saira ordered, voice cracking. "Just move."
Blood left a fading trail across broken tiles, but hope sometimes hid in the small cruelties of necessity.
---
Raian stumbled into an old courtyard, moonlight fractured across shattered tiles. His vision blurred — the world swam between light and shadow, blood roaring in his ears.
Then he saw it — the outer gate. Beyond, freedom. Beyond, her.
A guard blocked the path, taller than the others, blade raised high. Raian's breath caught, lungs burning like torn silk.
"Step aside," he rasped.
The guard only smirked, blade flashing.
Raian moved — chain wrapping the blade, twisting, pulling. Pain tore through him, white-hot. His knife drove forward — into flesh, into bone. The guard fell, eyes wide with dying shock.
Raian staggered, the world tipping sideways. For a heartbeat, darkness called.
No, he snarled inside. Not yet.
---
In the ruin, Malik's captain stepped over broken beams, gaze sweeping coldly. "Where is she?" he hissed.
A young boy, eyes wide with terror, pointed toward the back. The captain's mouth curled into a cruel smile. "Good," he murmured. "End this."
---
At the broken rear wall, Saira turned, knife in her scarred hand. "Go," she hissed to the others. "I'll hold them."
"But—" one boy began.
"Go!" she roared, and the fear in her voice drove them forward.
Saira stood alone, breath sharp, heart pounding like a war drum. Rain slicked the knife in her hand — but resolve kept it steady.
---
Raian reached the gate, shoulder slamming it open. Cold dawn air bit into sweat and blood, lungs burning with freedom. Beyond the walls, the city lay waiting — alive, dangerous, but real.
He took a breath that tasted of rust and rain. Then he moved, every step a vow.
Aria. Hold on. I'm coming.
---
In the ruin, the captain stepped through broken stone. His gaze locked on Saira — scarred, bloodied, knife raised. "Move," he ordered.
She shook her head. "Not tonight," she rasped.
He smirked. "Then die."
Steel flashed. Saira lunged, rage lending her strength beyond pain. Blades clashed — sparks flared. He was faster — trained, remorseless.
His blade found her side — tearing deep. She gasped, knees buckling, but her knife struck back, carving a line of red across his cheek.
The captain cursed, backhanding her to the ground. "Stupid woman," he spat, stepping over her.
---
Outside, dawn finally breached the horizon — pale, cold light spilling over blood and ruin.
Raian moved through ruined streets, heart a hammer of hope and terror. Each breath was agony, but each breath kept her name alive in his chest.
Aria. Aria.
---
At the edge of the ruin, Aria hung between breath and darkness. Pain pulsed faint and distant. Voices blurred — Saira's shout, boots striking stone, the gasp of boys dragging her forward.
Somewhere far off, she heard him — not words, but memory: Hold on.
I'm trying, she thought, tears hot on her cold skin. I'm trying.
---
Teaser for Episode 60:
Raian races against death to reach Aria, but Malik's trap is already closing — and the price of freedom may demand more blood than either can bear.