The house was pitch black and silent as Rosakai led Zephren up the basement stairs to a narrow hallway. It was vastly more confined than the grand corridors of the manor. Though Zephren was blind in the darkness, he could make out the shapes of doorways as they passed by unoccupied rooms. The windows were expertly boarded, and though Zephren could see faint cracks between the planks of wood, it was deep night outside, and the only variation was a rich blue from the otherwise blackness.

Zeph leaned on the siren, pulling at the man’s arm as he limped awkwardly forward. The pressure made his muscles feel tenderly glued together, his skull tight and full. He’d been given water and offered food…in the little time he’d spent here, he’d been treated well. Though he wasn’t sure if it was some kind of trick or trap, it was far better from the life he’d known.

“Where’s Blade?” Zeph whispered, constantly checking behind his shoulder at the lack of footsteps behind them.

Rosakai’s breath sounded loud in the stillness, his deep voice somehow calming as he spoke softly, “He’s putting out the fire in the basement. If you hear anything, don’t be alarmed. There are others here as well. You’ll meet them in the morning.” Though his words were meant to be comforting, they brought little reassurance. More strangers…more people not to trust.

As they neared the end of the hall, Zeph stumbled over objects, pulling on Rosakai’s arm as he felt his ankle roll. Hands caught him, Zephren yelping as his eyes stung with sudden tears and the wound in his side pulsed. Pain flared through him, making his chest seize.

Rosakai moved his hands instantly, but he only let go of Zephren when he was sure he’d steadied. The siren’s breath was ragged, his voice alarmed as he whispered, “I’m sorry that I hurt you. I wasn’t thinking… Are you alright?”

Zephren couldn’t see Rosakai’s face in such darkness, merely the faint outline of his figure. Still, he could feel the man staring down at him. Catching his breath and feeling the pangs of pain subside, Zephren nodded and then realized that Rosakai likely couldn’t see him either. “I’m alright.” Still, Zephren couldn’t believe how weak he felt, finding himself leaning against the wall with great force to stand upright. “I just tripped over something on the floor.”

Rosakai hunched down as he moved the objects, something thudding and shuffling against the ground. “Looks like someone didn’t put their shoes away… I apologize.”

Though he couldn’t see what he had tripped over, all Zephren could think about in the blackness was how he had never worn shoes before in his whole life. He stared down at the floor in awe, as if he could visualize it, waiting for his eyes to adjust to the dark so he could see.

Zeph pushed against the wall for support, and felt it move slightly with a dull thud and creak, making him flinch. He turned around, reaching out to push on it more deliberately as he felt the strange, small movement. “What is this?”

“It’s the back door,” Rosakai stated, standing a little closer.

Zephren moved his hand over it, curious. The smooth texture was what he had mistaken for the wall; painted wood, perhaps. He found the metal doorknob, twisting and pulling on it only to discover it was locked. He was reminded of his prison, trembling as he thought of the metal door that he’d tried to get past all those years.

Suddenly he felt suffocated, like he was right back in his cell. “Can you open it?” he asked, expecting the siren to refuse him.

Rosakai stepped forward without a word, reaching past Zephren like a thick shadow. There was a warmth on Zephren’s back as the siren leaned against him. Then, a sharp snap filled the quiet as the door unlocked. Zephren flinched as he felt Rosakai’s large gloved hand on his, guiding him to turn the doorknob. The door creaked and shifted as Rosakai pulled on the handle…and then the door opened.

The world before them was not burning into ash as Zephren had feared, but instead, doused in starlight. Zephren held his breath as moonlight swept slowly across the foyer, a cool breeze swelling into the house. Somehow, he didn’t feel the pain in his body as he straightened and walked out into the night. It was like he was in a daze, walking through a world he had only ever dreamed of.

His bare feet sunk into the thick green grass, the wind moving over the small hill Zephren stood upon. He could smell the unfamiliar sweet scent of nature, mixed with the harshness of brine. It was impossible for him to take in everything he was seeing, his mind overwhelmed with the beauty and serenity of the land. He had never imagined so many shades of blue. Even the cloudless sky was a deep, dark blue; a thick blanket, scattered with stars like dazzling rainbow dust across the night, glittering in clusters. Beneath it, water stretched out to the horizon, mirroring the world in a ripple of waves.

The sound deafened him, the wind making the leaves rustle and the waves crash upon the shore. “It’s so loud,” Zephren exhaled, wondering if Rosakai could even hear him.

The siren stepped into place beside him. “Really? This is quiet to me…peaceful.”

Zephren could feel himself begin to shake, his knees suddenly weak, then giving out. He stumbled before he sank to the ground, his jarring breath making him jump as pain shot into his side. He was startled to feel the tears slide down his cheeks, his emotions swelling inside him…

This was the first time he realized that he was free.

Digging his fingers into the soil, Zephren gripped the land with his bandaged hand. The cold dirt caked under his nails as he ripped the fine strands of grass from the ground. He wanted to fuse himself with this place so he would never have to go back.

Rosakai knelt beside him, reaching to put his hand over Zeph’s fist that was clenched with dirt. “How long were you imprisoned?” Rosakai asked in a low whisper, almost washed out by the sound of wind and waves.

Zephren didn’t look at him, only stared at where the siren’s gloved fingers were clasped over his hand. It felt so strange to be touched by another person…a gentle touch that filled him with warmth and without a trace of fear. He had been alone for so long…

“How do you know I was imprisoned?” Zephren murmured, trying to remember if he’d said anything of the sort to these strangers.

Sighing, Rosakai didn’t move, his hand still brushing Zephren’s skin. “You were dressed in rags, you look like you’ve been starved, and your face has the bruise of a handprint… Talk to me. I want to understand.” The heat of Rosakai’s gaze bore into Zephren as he looked up at the strange siren, wanting to trust him. Rosakai looked pained as he asked, “Your father… Did he hurt you?”

Zeph flinched at his words, awkwardly pushing himself to his feet, one handedly. He turned to face the siren, Rosakai moving to rise and stand before him. It was almost like looking at a distorted mirror; so many things were similar between them and yet, they were completely different. Rosakai’s appearance was striking and out of place, wearing all black leather in such a serene setting…and Zephren was sure he was out of place, too.

Still, the way this stranger looked at him… Zeph had never known what real sympathy looked like until now.

He didn’t know why it was so difficult to say the words out loud when he could think them so clearly in his head… Perhaps if he said them it would make them more true, something that would bind to him and be inescapable. “If I tell you,” Zephren murmured, trying to be brave, “I don’t want to go on wounded. I don’t want to feel sorry for myself or have others pitying me. Because…I do feel sorry for myself,” he could feel his voice growing in determination, “I feel weak and cheated… But I want to be stronger.” He stared at the siren, eyes meeting silver, “I need you to help make me stronger.”