12. Violet

The cold metal of our prison cell felt different tonight.

As Kuana wrapped his arms around me, the walls felt less constricting, the lights less blinding, the sounds less jarring.

For the first time since I stepped foot in Ikmal prison, I felt a glimmer of hope.

Kuana's decision to leave, to be with me, to give up this life of combat and confinement — it was everything I had ever hoped for.

I'd been racking my brain, weighing options, even going to rival gang leaders.

Yet, the solution lay in the person I least expected — Kuana himself.

I looked up at him, his golden eyes laced with flecks of violet scanning mine, trying to gauge my emotions. "You're really sure about this, aren't you?" I whispered, a hesitant smile on my lips.

He tightened his grip on me. "For you, Violet, I'd leave galaxies behind."

I chuckled softly. "You always had a flair for the dramatic."

But my heart was racing.

The deadline was closing in, and the plan needed to be put into motion.

Taking a deep breath, I began:

"I need to tell you something, Kuana. About how I got into Ikmal, and more importantly, how I planned to get out."

His brow furrowed. "What do you mean?"

"Do you know someone called Ikhax?" I started, watching Kuana's expression grow dark. "He thinks I'm on an undercover mission for the Space Force. I let him believe that, but in truth, this has always been about us. I made a deal with him — to get me in and to get us out."

Kuana pulled back in disbelief. "You trusted Ikhax with our escape? Do you realize how dangerous he is?"

"Yes, I do. But he was my best shot. My only shot. Do you think I would've taken such a risk if I didn't think it was worth it?" My voice trembled with a mix of fear and determination. "We don't have much time. And while I've been trying every other angle, nothing has worked."

Kuana looked lost in thought.

The weight of my revelations, the gravity of our situation, it was all catching up to him.

"What does he know about me?" Kuana's voice was barely above a whisper, his expression guarded.

"Nothing," I replied, a little confused. "Why would he? All he knows is that there's another prisoner I need to extract. I've kept your identity a secret."

A sigh escaped him. "Ikhax is a dirty snalak. He'll double-cross you in a heartbeat."

"That's a risk I had to take. For us." I stressed, trying to make him understand. "He's expecting confidential information in return, but it's not something that will tell him much. I don't fully understand what happened anyway."

Kuana ran his fingers through his hair, a conflicted expression on his face. "Violet, this is all so… convoluted."

"Love is complicated," I murmured. "But it's worth fighting for."

Kuana looked deep into my eyes. "And if Ikhax double-crosses us?"

"We'll deal with it," I said with determination. "But it's our best shot, Kuana. Unless you have a backup spaceship stashed somewhere?"

He chuckled softly. "If only."

For a few minutes, we sat in silence, lost in our thoughts.

The weight of our decisions, the risks we were taking — it was a lot to process.

But as I nestled closer to Kuana, I realized something.

We were in this together.

Every twist, every turn, every danger — we'd face it hand in hand.

"You really believe we can do this?" Kuana asked, breaking the silence.

"I do," I replied, my voice filled with conviction. "I believe in us."

Kuana took a deep breath, his eyes filled with resolve. "All right, Violet. I trust you. We'll go with your plan."

"But?"

"But I don't trust Ikhax. Not for a second. We need to be prepared for anything."

I nodded. "Agreed."

We trusted each other implicitly, and that was our greatest strength.

But as for Ikhax, trust was a luxury we couldn't afford.

* * *

The dim,dusty room had an odd smell, like rust and old metal.

Last time I was here, Ikhax's cooking must have covered up the worst of the stink.

I sat on the uncomfortable chair, my back straight and head held high, waiting for him.

Every time I faced him, my heart raced, not from attraction or admiration, but from sheer wariness.

Finally, the door swung open, and in strode Ikhax, his tall figure towering over me, his cold eyes assessing every move I made.

"Violet," he greeted with a nod, as he took a seat opposite me.

"Ikhax," I replied evenly.

He leaned forward. "Are you finally ready to give me my information?"

I took a deep breath, recalling the scenes from that fateful day — the explosion, the reconnaissance mission, and the discovery of the unknown energy signature.

"After the research facility explosion," I began, "I requested to be assigned to the reconnaissance mission."

Ikhax's eyes sparkled with interest. "And?"

"The facility had a rupture in its core. That much was obvious from the ruins. But the explosion was not merely the result of an unstable core. The plasma residue left behind was unlike anything I had ever seen before," I explained.

Ikhax raised an eyebrow. "Go on."

I hesitated for a moment, choosing my words carefully. "There were energy readings… anomalous ones. The readings weren't from the standard plasma we're used to dealing with. It was a new kind, glowing an eerie shade of violet."

Ikhax's eyes widened a fraction, and I knew I had his attention. "Violet plasma?" he mused. "Interesting. Do you have any samples?"

"No," I replied curtly. "The recon mission was for gathering information, not materials."

Ikhax tapped his fingers on the table, deep in thought. "Where did this plasma come from? Was it being synthesized in the facility?"

I'd had to think carefully about what I told him. "Yes. It was reportedly a new form of plasma being developed, far more powerful than the plasma we use today. It can be used for faster, deeper space travel, more powerful weapons, and there are even rumors it possesses unique qualities we don't fully comprehend yet. But most of the facility's records were destroyed in the explosion and the research has been set back yesrs, maybe even decades."

He leaned back, studying me with those piercing eyes. "There's more you're not telling me."

I hesitated, my mind wandering to the day I stood among the ruins of the facility, the place where Kuana was supposed to have met his end.

The weight of grief, the overwhelming sadness, the small glimmer of hope that he might still be alive — it was an emotion I didn't want to relive, especially not in front of Ikhax.

"There was a rumor…" I began.

Ikhax perched two of his hands under his chin. "Go on."

"That there was a lone survivor. Someone who emerged from the wreckage. We followed every lead we could find but we found no evidence of this survivor."

Ikhax just looked at me intently.

What I had told him was the truth — although I had opted to not reveal the one piece of information that he would have valued most — that the lone survivor was Kuana.

The weight of Ikhax's gaze was heavy on me, his eyes studying me intently.

The silence in the room was oppressive, almost stifling.

I found myself fidgeting, my gaze flitting between the worn-out floor and his expectant eyes.

Finally, he leaned back, breaking the tension.

A slow smile spread across his face. "You've confirmed everything, Violet," he said in a low voice, almost a whisper.

I tilted my head, puzzled. "What did I confirm?"

He chuckled, a sound that sent shivers down my spine. "The explosion at the facility. I saw it. Or, at least, I thought I did. I saw the bursts of violet plasma moments before the entire place went up in flames. Long streaks that soared into the heavens and an enormous violet bubble of an explosion."

He paused, taking a deep breath, as if recalling a long-forgotten memory. "I thought I was going mad, thinking I imagined the whole thing. But hearing you describe it… it's like a missing piece of the puzzle finally falling into place."

I remained silent, trying to process what he was saying.

Ikhax continued:

"I never told anyone about what I saw. But that day, I had my eyes set on that facility. I had intended on attacking the facility myself. My plans were thwarted by that explosion. And ever since, I've been trying to find out the truth."

He leaned in closer. "And the rumor of a survivor. I've been trying to track him down for five long years. But my search led me to a dead end. And then…" He gestured around the room. "…Ikmal happened."

He looked away, a hint of bitterness in his voice. "One mistake, one slip-up, and I ended up here. My gang on the outside is still searching, though. I could have left Ikmal, used the escape strategy I have in place… but what's the point? I'll only end up breaking another law, and they'll make it even harder to get out the next time."

He looked at me, his gaze intense. "So, again, I thank you, Violet. Although, I must admit, I'm a bit jealous I couldn't get a taste of what could've been."

Before I could react, the room around us changed.

It transformed into a vast, dimly lit space, with a grand bed in the center.

I looked down and saw an illusion of myself and Ikhax together, our bodies entwined.

Two of his hands held my arms back, while the other two viciously pinched my shadow's nipples.

A wave of nausea swept over me.

He appeared next to me, whispering in my ear. "This is what you're missing out on, Violet. But it's not too late. We still have time…"

I recoiled, trying to force the sickening image from my mind.

I closed my eyes tightly, desperate to return to the reality of Ikhax's cell.

When I opened them, the illusion was gone, but the heavy feeling in my chest remained.

I stumbled backward, still trying to shake off the eerie feeling.

The taste of bile rose in my throat.

Ikhax watched with a smirk, clearly enjoying my discomfort.

"Please yourself," he said with a shrug, his voice dripping with disdain.

Gathering my composure, I met his gaze, my voice firm. "We had a deal."

The dim lights of Ikhax's cell glinted off his pale skin, making him appear even more ghostly.

After a long, scrutinizing look, he finally broke the silence, his deep voice echoing throughout the cell. "I'll uphold our deal, Violet."

His announcement brought a rush of relief I hadn't realized I'd been holding in.

I tried to maintain a calm facade, though my heart raced, pounding loud enough that I worried he might hear it.

"The plan is in place," he continued. "Tonight, when everything settles, come to my cell with your chosen prisoner. I'll ensure your escape goes smoothly."

As he spoke, Ikhax reached out, placing each of his four hands on me — two on my shoulders and one on each arm.

It was an oddly gentle gesture coming from someone like him.

The warmth of his hands contrasted with the cold metal of the cell, sending a shiver down my spine.

"You've done a great service for me today," he murmured, a rare smile touching his lips. "I won't forget this."

The intimacy of the moment, the closeness of Ikhax, sent a rush of mixed emotions through me.

The lines between friend and foe had blurred, and I had to remind myself that in this prison, allegiances shifted as quickly as sand in the wind.

I hope you do forget, I thought, thinking about Kuana.

The love of my life, the lone survivor Ikhax had been hunting relentlessly, had been right under his nose.

And tonight, thanks to Ikhax's obsession with the truth and his unyielding hunt for the survivor, he was about to facilitate our escape.

As he released me, I felt the weight of our deal, the gravity of the choices I'd made.

Taking a deep breath, I nodded. "Thank you, Ikhax. Until tonight."

As I walked out of the cell, I could feel his eyes on my back, but I didn't look back.

The dim corridors of Ikmal prison seemed to stretch endlessly, but my steps were light.

With every step, the weight of the looming escape and the threat Ikhax posed pressed on me.

But there was also hope, a glimmer of a future beyond these walls, a future with Kuana.

As I continued to walk, I contemplated the twist of fate.

Here was Ikhax, a creature so consumed by his search for the truth, unknowingly aiding the very person he sought.

The irony was delicious, and I couldn't help but smile to myself.

Closing in on the Prize Pool, the reality of what was about to transpire dawned on me.

The planning, the secrecy, the risks — it all culminated into this one night.

There was no turning back, and as much as I feared the unknown that lay ahead, the thought of finally being free, of being with Kuana without the shadows of the past haunting us, was exhilarating.

Slipping into the Prizes' shared dorm, I took a moment to breathe.

In the dim light, I caught my reflection in the mirror.

The face staring back was one of determination, of hope, and of love.

This was it.

The countdown to freedom had begun.

As I prepared for the night, the poetic justice of the situation wasn't lost on me.

Ikhax, in his quest for the truth, had unknowingly become an architect of his own defeat.

It was a sweet irony, and as the hours ticked by, I relished in it.

Tonight, Kuana and I would leave Ikmal behind, and Ikhax would be none the wiser.