As Lucius toiled through his laborious routine, the memory of the narrow escape route—the one the pickpocket had used—remained etched in his mind. He forced himself to endure the grueling work until the shift changed, granting him a brief reprieve for the night. Yet, rest was far from his intentions.
The labor quarters were heavily guarded, their patrols vigilant. Slipping out unnoticed was a challenge, but not an impossible one. Moving with practiced stealth, Lucius rose from his bed and navigated the dimly lit corridors, his steps light as shadows. His breath hitched as he neared the rendezvous point, his keen eyes scanning the surroundings.
"...Damn it," he muttered under his breath, pressing himself against a rusted pillar. There are more of them than I expected.
He exhaled slowly, calming his nerves, and prepared to advance—only to freeze mid-step. A small, skittering noise reached his ears, and as he glanced downward, his blood ran cold. A squirrel.
Lucius' entire body tensed. A deep-seated fear clawed at his gut, irrational yet undeniable. The creature's beady eyes glinted in the low light, its tiny paws twitching against the floor. Lucius clenched his jaw, biting back a strangled noise as the squirrel scurried closer. He staggered backward instinctively, but in doing so, his boot caught against a loose metal plate.
Thud!
The sound reverberated through the still air like a hammer striking stone.
"Who goes there?!" A guard's voice rang out, sharp and alert.
Lucius barely had time to react before he flattened himself against the ground, heart pounding in his chest. Shit! I'm done for! He covered his mouth, willing his breath to steady as the guard's heavy boots approached.
The tension was suffocating.
Then, out of the shadows, the squirrel emerged.
The guard halted, his stance rigid. For a brief moment, silence stretched between them. Then, with an exasperated scoff, the guard relaxed.
"Just a damn squirrel," he muttered before turning on his heel and resuming his patrol.
Lucius remained motionless, his heart slamming against his ribs as he listened to the guard's fading footsteps. Only when he was certain the danger had passed did he finally exhale, his breath shaky with relief.
Of all things… a damn squirrel.
Steeling himself, he pressed forward, slipping into the night once more.
Lucius pressed on, his breath steadying as he finally reached the meeting point. Harriet, Yu Xuan, and Nai were already there, waiting.
"What took you so long, Lucius?" Nai taunted, arms crossed as she leaned casually against the wall.
Lucius let out a low gruff. "I had the furthest dormitory. What do you expect?" he retorted with a sigh.
Yu Xuan, ever the pragmatist, wasted no time. "So, where's the pickpocket you mentioned?"
"They're not here," Lucius admitted, scanning the surroundings before gesturing towards the path ahead. "But I know the way up."
"Good. We need to move now," Harriet interjected, her tone firm. "The guards will notice our absence soon, and I want these damned cuffs off. Not being able to use our Force—it's infuriating."
The others gave silent nods of agreement before Lucius took the lead, guiding them toward the narrow passageway. The confined space forced them into an awkward, cramped position as they crawled through.
"Can you hurry up?" Nai hissed, her patience already wearing thin.
Lucius shot her an irritated glare. "This route wasn't made for people our size. Be patient!" he snapped in a hushed whisper, continuing forward.
Just as Yu Xuan and Harriet prepared to follow, an unfamiliar voice rang through the air, stopping them in their tracks.
"Well, well… it's been years since the last inmate attempted an escape."
The chillingly smooth voice sent a shiver down Lucius' spine. He turned sharply, his pulse quickening as a figure emerged from the shadows. The man was clad in a pristine soldier's uniform, yet his presence exuded an air of authority far beyond the common guards. His silver hair, streaked with dirt, framed a face marked with quiet amusement. A slow, deliberate clap echoed through the corridor.
Before any of them could react, the darkness around them shifted—guards emerged from every corner, their weapons drawn, their expressions impassive.
Lucius' jaw tightened. Damn it.
They had been caught.
To be continued