8. Violet

Ifelt the weight of the situation on my shoulders as I walked alongside Arctook.

He was, after all, the victor of today's battle.

Every step echoed the unwritten code of the prison — a Champion could Claim his Prize, and there was no denying what that entailed.

Arctook, with all his earnestness and youthful energy, had a gleam in his eyes, an anticipation of the reward for his hard-fought victory.

He had bled and sweated for this moment, and in his eyes, I was that reward.

But my heart and mind were somewhere else.

A soft sigh escaped my lips.

I regretted that I was going to have to knock him unconscious.

Not just because of the violence of the act, but because of what it represented.

A breach of trust.

A betrayal.

However small the bond between us might have been, my next action would shatter it.

I began to mentally prepare myself for what was to come.

I thought of the soft spots of his species, the pressure points that could render him unconscious with the least amount of pain.

I knew I had to be swift and decisive.

Every second counted.

We rounded another dimly lit bend in the prison's maze-like corridors.

The echo of our footsteps was the only sound, and the tension between us was palpable.

I could feel Arctook's anticipation, his pride in his achievement and his excitement for what was to come.

As we turned a corner, a familiar face greeted us.

Kuana stood there, an almost mischievous smile playing on his lips.

He's up to something… but what?

"Kuana!" Arctook exclaimed, closing the distance between them with an ease that belied the bruises and cuts he had sustained in the pits. "I owe you for this," he said, gesturing to the fading injuries on his body and the renewed energy in his step.

The palpable camaraderie between Kuana and Arctook was something I had never imagined.

They shared an unspoken bond, one that I was just beginning to grasp.

"I couldn't have done it without your guidance," Arctook said. "Those meditation techniques… they did wonders. Kept me grounded, focused."

Arctook continued, his voice filled with genuine appreciation.

I sent a questioning glance in Kuana's direction, my eyebrows furrowing in confusion.

Since when had Kuana been coaching Arctook?

And more importantly, why?

Did he want Arctook to Claim me?

Was last night just a game to him?

Kuana's face was inscrutable, his eyes reflecting a myriad of emotions, but his stoic nature kept them hidden from the world.

Noticing my puzzled look, he reached out to Arctook, pulling him slightly to the side.

I strained my ears, trying to eavesdrop on their whispered conversation, but their voices were barely audible.

What I could discern, however, was Arctook's ashen complexion as Kuana's words reached him.

He glanced at me, his eyes wide with a mix of disbelief and sudden understanding.

His next words came out choked, barely louder than a whisper. "Are you sure?"

Kuana responded with a solemn nod, his face etched with seriousness, the weight of whatever he had shared clearly affecting both of them.

Arctook took a moment to absorb the information, before turning to me, his voice shaky. "Uh, Violet. I'm… truly sorry, but… something's come up. I'm afraid our plans… must change."

Before I could question what had transpired between the two, Kuana stepped in. "I'll take Violet back to the Prize Pool. You should celebrate your victory, Arctook. You've earned it."

Arctook hesitated for a split second, then nodded slowly, a look of gratitude passing over his face. "Thank you, Kuana."

Without another word, he turned and quickly disappeared into the labyrinth of prison corridors.

As his footsteps faded, I turned to Kuana, questions swirling in my mind. "What was that about?" I pressed, searching his face for answers.

"I'll tell you later."

Kuana, with his tall, imposing stature and intense gaze, offered me his arm.

An almost chivalrous gesture in such an un-chivalrous place.

I laced my fingers with his, allowing him to lead me through the familiar maze of cells.

The events of the day felt like a whirlwind, leaving me dizzy with a mix of emotions.

* * *

The rhythmic clankingof our footsteps on the metal ground was soon drowned by the palpable tension in the air.

When we reached his cell, the muted light from the overhead bulbs created an almost intimate ambiance.

We entered, and the door slid shut behind us, enclosing us in our private world.

For a moment, we simply stared at each other, the unspoken words hanging between us.

The intensity of the moment was only broken when Kuana pulled me close, his lips crashing onto mine with a passion that consumed every inch of doubt and confusion that had accumulated over the past hours.

Time seemed to stand still as our kiss deepened.

Our breaths mingled, our bodies drawn together as if by an invisible magnetic force.

When we finally parted, our foreheads pressed together, a momentary silence fell upon us.

Still in the thrall of our shared intimacy, my curiosity got the better of me.

"Kuana," I began, my voice just above a whisper, "how did you convince Arctook to hand me over to you? Especially after he won the Prize Pool."

Kuana's lips curled into a sly grin, his eyes shimmering with mischief.

Leaning close, his warm breath tickled my ear as he whispered:

"I may have mentioned that you're the unfortunate carrier of a particularly undesirable disease…"

I blinked, pulling back to examine his face. "You did what now?"

"I told him you're infected with Pusjark," he elaborated, the corners of his eyes crinkling in amusement. "It's a nasty disease passed on through… close relations.:

A shocked laughter escaped my lips as I processed the ludicrousness of his statement.

Smacking his chest playfully, I tried to feign indignation. "Of all the things you could come up with, Kuana! You made me sound like I have a contagious, extraterrestrial disease?"

He shrugged, a boyish grin on his face. "It worked, didn't it? Besides, in a place like this, sometimes the most outlandish rumors are the most believable."

"And what if this rumor spreads?" I teased. "I could end up being the most avoided Prize in the prison! Thanks to you."

His smile grew wider. "Well, then, perhaps I'll be the only one brave enough to want you. Wouldn't that be a shame?"

His cheekiness was infectious, and I found myself chuckling along. "You have quite the devious mind, Kuana."

He drew me closer, his fingers tracing circles on my back. "Only when it comes to protecting what's important to me," he murmured, his voice laced with sincerity.

The reality of our situation began to sink in.

In a place defined by brutality and desperation, we had found solace in each other.

My heart swelled with emotion, knowing the lengths Kuana was willing to go to ensure our time together.

Our foreheads touched.

His laughter echoed in the room, its sound warming the very core of my being. "You have no idea how fast rumors travel here. By tomorrow, every inmate will be too afraid to come within a foot of you."

I smirked. "Then how am I supposed to overpower a Champion and go to you if no Champion ever Claims me?"

That gave him pause for thought. "Then from now on, I suppose I'll have to compete in the pits."

He pulled me into a tight embrace, and our lips met once again.

Every worry, every fear was lost in that moment, as we surrendered to the warmth of our shared bond.

* * *

The ambient lightof Kuana's cell danced off the walls, casting a soft glow that set a tranquil backdrop to our entwined forms.

There, in the heart of chaos, a small pocket of peace and intimacy existed between us.

Kuana's heartbeat was a steady rhythm beneath my ear, and his arm draped protectively over me.

But as we lay there, cocooned from the world outside, a storm of thoughts and worries swirled in my mind.

It was the perfect moment to voice them, yet the weight of what I had to say made the words feel like lead in my mouth.

Taking a deep breath, I tentatively began. "Kuana, have you thought more about… leaving this place?"

He stiffened slightly beneath me, signaling that he had indeed pondered the idea. "I told you. I can't leave without risking someone discovering my secret."

The weight of his past was evident in the weariness of his voice.

"We could find a place," I proposed, "somewhere quiet, off the grid. With the knowledge and skills I have, and your strengths, we could live comfortably, safely. No one would need to know anything."

He turned to face me, his deep blue eyes reflecting a mix of hope and trepidation. "It's not that simple, Violet. If someone tracks me down — and trust me, if we managed to escape Ikmal, bounty hunters would be dispatched to find me — then it would put you in danger too. I can't take that risk."

I bit my lip, feeling a surge of frustration. "But isn't it worth a try? For a chance at freedom? At happiness?"

His fingers brushed my cheek, wiping away an errant tear. "Believe me, there's nothing I want more than to be free with you. But the risks…"

If only you knew the risks I'm already taking just being here with you.

Three days.

An idea, audacious and perilous, began to form in my mind.

Maybe Kuana wouldn't willingly leave, but what if circumstances forced him out?

He wouldn't have to bear the burden of the decision.

I could work out the details later, but having him removed against his will might be the only way to ensure his safety.

Treading carefully, I tested the waters. "What if there was another way? A way out that didn't involve making a deal with Ikhax or any other unsavory characters?"

Kuana raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Do you have something in mind?"

Gathering my thoughts, I responded cautiously. "I may know people. People with resources, connections. They could engineer a breakout without anyone realizing who was behind it."

He looked deep into my eyes, searching for any hint of deceit. "That sounds very risky. And what about you? Would you also be part of this escape?"

The desperation in my voice was palpable. "I'd do anything to get you out of here, Kuana. Even if it means putting myself at risk."

He pulled me close, his embrace firm. "I can't let you do that. You have no idea what forces are at play outside these walls."

The determination in his voice made me realize that convincing him was going to be more challenging than I thought.

But I wasn't ready to give up.

The stakes were too high.

The gravity of our conversation hung between us, thick and undeniable.

He pulled me close, holding me as if I were his lifeline. "Whatever path we choose," he murmured, "we'll face it together."

The depth of our bond was undeniable.

We were two souls, adrift in a sea of uncertainty, but anchored to each other.

And come what may, that bond was unbreakable.

As the night deepened, the prison around us faded into insignificance.

All that mattered was the shared heartbeat between us, and the silent promise of a future worth fighting for.