In an empty room, dark, and cold. Cold air constantly flowed in, you couldn't help but to shiver.
At the desk, Aiden stirred. His body felt sluggish, a dull ache pulsed at the back of his skull as his eyelids fluttered open. He blinked rapidly, his vision sharpening just enough to make out the cold, metal desk in front of him.
It was the weight of thick iron cuffs, attached to thr desk holding him down.
"Ahh…my head."
Aiden twisted his head, pain pulsed through his skull. His breath came out in short, uneven gasps, misting in the freezing air. He had no idea where he was, nor about the room. He was puzzled. He had no choice.
"Hello?" His voice echoed off, the wall he couldn't see.
Nothing.
Aiden swallowed hard, his pulse quickening. He tried again, louder this time.
"Hello!"
The word bounced back at him, a hollow repetition that only deepened the emptiness. He wasn't sure what was worse the silence before or the echo that reminded him he was completely alone.
Aiden's ears perked up at the faint mechanical whir from the corner of the room. His gaze snapped toward the source, his eyes adjusting to the dim light. A small camera mounted on the wall shifted, its lens now locked onto him. A tiny red light flickered, pulsing steadily it was a sign…someone was watching.
"Hey!"
He glanced around the barren room. "I I know you're listening. Why don't you just come out and talk?"
Silence.
"Are you trying to scare me?" He scoffed, through his softening voice. "Well… it worked."
His fingers curled into fists, the metal cuffs digging into his skin. His thoughts raced. 'This place… it's built for interrogation… maybe even torture…they may want me scared but I won't be.'
They wanted him shaken, vulnerable. The freezing air, the isolation it was psychological warfare, a slow, calculated attempt to break him down. But he'd endured worse. Mental challenges had been thrown at him before, and he survived every single one. This wouldn't be any different.
Aiden gaze lowered to his crystal. Everything else had been stripped from him, but this remained. A small relief.
"Helper," he muttered. "Where am I?"
"I can't say for certain. But from what I overheard while they were carrying you… others who ended up here described it like a prison."
Aiden jaw tightened. "How do I get out of here?"
A brief pause. "I don't know."
Then I'll find out myself.
Aiden let out a frustrated sigh. Useless as always. Every time he had a chance to ask Helper something important, the answers were vague or unhelpful.
He, then remembered he could, ask the Helper about the CAD works in the world.
Before he could speak, the sharp creak of a door interrupted his thoughts.
His head turned toward the far corner of the room, where a heavy metal door swung open. Two men stepped inside.
Aiden eyes widen briefly. "So, you're finally here."
The first man was towering, broad-shouldered figure moved with an air of absolute confidence. He had a short, well-groomed beard and thick brown hair, but it was his piercing green eyes that stood out the most. There was strength behind them.
Behind him walked a second man, noticeably calmer. He had green hair styled into a low mohawk and a long, jagged scar running across the left side of his face. His left eye had turned milky white, while the right remained an intense brown.
Both were clad in brown and black cloaks, covering from seeing beneath.
The larger man sat into the chair across from Aiden with an easy smile…too easy.
Exo Energy…first it was with Finn now these men to. So no he had to, cautious of why he felt that.
"We just have a couple of questions," the large man said, his deep voice laced with amusement. "Your answers determine whether you leave… or stay." His smile stretched into a smirk.
Aiden met his gaze without hesitation. "No problem," he said coolly. Then his tone changed. "But first where am I? And why the hell did you kidnap me?"
He could tell from their demeanor that they expected him to fold. They thought their little game…cold isolation, sensory deprivation, psychological warfare would wear him down, make him compliant. They were used to breaking people before the real interrogation even began.
The large man eyebrow rose. For a moment, he looked almost… impressed. He was used to seeing prisoners crumble under the pressure. This one? He still has fight in him. Interesting.
He continued. "So your fine…still it won't be any different."
Leaning forward, folding his hands. "Let's start with the obvious. Who are you?"
"I'm sure. You already know my name."
"I want to hear you say it."
Aiden exhaled. "Fine. Aiden. Satisfied?"
"Not even close. Tell me why are you in this zone? Why were you walking alone?"
Aiden just kept quiet he couldn't expose to much about himself but he can do some to maybe help himself escape.
The large man started deeply at Aiden. "Exodites don't stumble into places by accident. So, let's try again why were you alone?"
Aiden chuckled. "No one. I work alone."
"That's hard to believe. People who 'work alone' tend to end up in unmarked graves. Yet here you are, still breathing. Why?"
"I'm hard to kill."
"That much is obvious. But I need to know if keeping you alive is a mistake."
Aiden head dropped low for a second. 'So he wants to find out about me, but what does that benefit is he going to use me as a bargaining…'
Not possible yeah I dislike Riven now I did saying won't do anything to bring trouble to Mira.
"I guess that depends on what you're afraid of."
"I don't deal in fear. I deal in facts. So, here's a fact…I'm sure you have enemies. Dangerous ones. If they find out you're here, they'll come knocking. Should I be worried?" The large man said.
"Maybe."
"Huh…" The man chuckled, as if amused, but before he could continue, his partner cut in.
"Alright, Marvin, let me take over."
Marvin sighed, rolling his shoulders as he stood. The other man slid into the seat across from Aiden, a wide grin spreading across his face.
Marvin is usually the one with the intimidation tactic, to get control. However sometimes it doesn't work on experience Exodites.
Seeing that, he not doing it to Aiden he had to have a reason, so Marvin using the opposite of intimidation, slowly getting what he needed.
So, they both knew there absolutely needed to do, they had a a normal easy-going relationship.
"You, my friend, are making this way too dramatic," he said, his tone lighter but no less dangerous. "All this brooding… it's exhausting. Let's make this simple. What are you looking for?"
Aiden frowned, his shoulder hunched , he even tried to reach for his pockets. Still he remained silent. His mind drifted, and for the first time, he was uncertainty his escape.
Mira… Riven…
He had left them without a word. No explanation, no plan, no backup. Now, he was sitting in some unknown room, chained to a desk, surrounded by people who wanted answers he wasn't sure he even had.
Deep down heart, regret dripped through his soul. He felt desolate.
I said I'd do this on my own… but look where that got me. Now, That dream is gone.
During his running through the desert, he had convinced himself he could handle everything alone. That he didn't need anyone. But now? He was captured, ambushed, and completely cut off. Mira wouldn't find him. No one would.
Had they noticed he was missing? Did they even know where to look?
The man rhythmic tapping against the desk awoke him.
"Oh, come on," he sighed. "Lone wolves don't get dragged into interrogation rooms. They get left in ditches... Something changed. Found something worth sticking around for?"
"You're reaching."
"Maybe." The man shrugged. "Or maybe I'm right…What happens when you find it?"
"…I don't know."
"Now that was honest." The man leaned back, stretching. "So, Marvin? He's safe…for now." Then his gaze flickered back to Aiden. "But guys like you? The second they figure out what they want… they become the most dangerous people in the world."
Despite, that he wss still doubtful of Aiden being alone.
Aiden now he a chance to properly think why were Exodites kidnapping him. There looked like Exodites themselves, he felt some energy.
So why aren't we helping each other? What other motives do they have besides clearing zones… money? There must be something wrong with them.
It wasn't normal for Exodites to attack each others especially, suddenly of course there may have conflicte.
Because everyone may take the zone core crystal and whatever good item that there, it can cause a rivalry. But not going so far to attack each other.
As they Marvin and the other man left, they had felt this had went to smoothly, that even despite at first having a misstep, not breaking down Aiden.
At that moment, multiple large men it was the same one who ambushed him. Came in and dragged him, out of the room.