The Encounter Under Watch

*(Lena’s Point of View)*

The pale light of the metallic corridors reflected off the cold walls, and the air was heavy with tension. I was confined in a large, sterile room, where every corner seemed designed to remind me there was no escape. The silence was suffocating, broken only by the distant echo of footsteps. Thorne’s presence lingered everywhere, even when he wasn’t around.

My mind was a constant storm. There was something inside me—a force surging, like a rising tide. The connection with Kael still existed, though faint, and I knew he was near. He had to be. But at the same time, Thorne always seemed a step ahead, knowing exactly how to keep me vulnerable.

My thoughts were interrupted by the hiss of the metallic door sliding open. Two armed guards entered first, rigid and alert. Then Thorne followed. He wore that same look of superiority, as if every detail of the situation was under his control.

“I see you still have that glimmer of defiance in your eyes,” he said with a lazy smile, stepping closer. “I hope you didn’t think it would last.”

My breathing grew heavy, but I said nothing. I knew he wanted a reaction, wanted to see me break bit by bit. I wouldn’t give him that satisfaction.

Thorne moved closer, his intense gaze fixed on me. “Kael is here, you know.”

My heart leapt, though I tried to keep my expression neutral. Kael. He had made it.

“Of course,” Thorne continued, almost casually, “my guards have him under control. He won’t be a problem.”

The words hit like a blow. Every part of me screamed to escape, to fight, to run to him. But Thorne was waiting for that. He wanted me to lose control, to reaffirm his dominance.

“He came for me,” I murmured, more to myself than to him.

“Oh yes,” Thorne confirmed, leaning in so our faces were almost touching. “He thinks he can save you. Pathetic, isn’t it?”

I didn’t react. Silence was my only weapon now. I needed to buy time. I needed to think.

“I’ll let you see him,” Thorne finally said, his smile widening cruelly. “But only so you understand that he is completely at my mercy. When you see him trapped and powerless, you’ll realize no one can save you.”

I stared at him, struggling to contain the despair threatening to overwhelm me. Thorne’s game was clear—he wanted me to believe Kael was defeated, that there was no hope.

But deep down, I knew Thorne was wrong. Kael would never give up. And as long as I could keep that spark alive within me, neither would I.

Thorne gestured to the guards. “Take her to the outer platform. She can watch the show.”

The guards approached, their faces impassive. I allowed them to lead me without resistance. It was time to see Kael. And when I found him, we would make the light shatter the darkness.

The guards flanked me on either side as they led me down the metallic corridor. My pulse raced, the weight of what Thorne had said pressing down on me. Kael is here.He had come all this way, risking everything for me. But now, trapped under Thorne’s control, his fate rested in the same precarious balance as mine.

Each step echoed hollowly against the floor, amplifying the coldness of the place. I could feel the oppressive energy that lingered in the walls—this wasn’t just a building. It was a symbol of Thorne’s reign, a prison wrapped in power and fear. I tried to suppress the rising panic, forcing myself to focus on the possibility of escape.

The guards said nothing, moving with mechanical precision, their eyes fixed forward. I studied them as we walked, searching for any weakness—anything that might give me an advantage. But these men were different, cold and lifeless, as if they had surrendered their souls to Thorne long ago.

When the doors slid open again, a wave of cool air hit me, and I found myself on a wide, open platform overlooking the planet’s landscape. The sky was heavy with clouds, casting everything below in a bleak gray light. Beyond the horizon, the distant city lights flickered dimly, like fireflies struggling against the encroaching darkness.

I searched frantically, my heart pounding. And then, I saw him.

Kael stood at the far end of the platform, held between two towering guards. He was still—too still—but his gaze was unwavering. Even from this distance, I could feel the intensity in his eyes, burning with the same resolve that had kept us alive all this time. His body was bruised, and his movements looked strained, but there was no sign of defeat in him.

“Kael,” I whispered, my voice lost to the wind.

Thorne stepped beside me, the smug grin on his face impossible to ignore. “There he is. The great Kael. Not much of a savior, is he?”

I clenched my fists, fighting the urge to lash out. This was Thorne’s trap—he wanted me to break, to believe that Kael’s capture was proof of our hopelessness. But the fire inside me refused to dim. Kael was here. That was all that mattered.

“He’s stronger than you think,” I said quietly, not taking my eyes off Kael.

Thorne chuckled softly. “Oh, I doubt that. But it will be fun to watch you learn the truth.”

With a flick of his hand, the guards dragged Kael forward, forcing him to his knees. I could see the strain in every muscle of his body, the way he fought even against the smallest movements meant to degrade him.

But then, something unexpected happened.

Kael’s gaze found mine, and in that brief, silent exchange, I felt everything—his determination, his belief in me, his refusal to give in. Despite the chains around his wrists, despite the guards at his side, Kael was still fighting. And so would I.

I stepped closer to the edge of the platform, feeling the cold wind bite at my skin. “You made a mistake bringing him here,” I said, my voice steady despite the storm brewing inside me.

Thorne arched an eyebrow, amused. “And what mistake would that be?”

“You let him get too close.”

For the first time, Thorne’s expression faltered. Just slightly. But it was enough. Kael and I weren’t defeated—not yet. We just needed the right moment.

I didn’t know how we were going to escape or how we would fight against the overwhelming odds stacked against us. But I knew one thing for sure: We wouldn’t stop fighting. Not as long as we had each other.

And that, I realized, was what Thorne feared most.