Unbind me

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Seraphina Sterling
"my life was never about living, it was always about surviving"

━━━━༻❁༺━━━━

The days bleed together in this place, each one indistinguishable from the last. Time feels like an illusion, slipping through my fingers no matter how tightly I try to hold on. I sit on the edge of my bed, staring at the blank bookshelf, my mind elsewhere.

I haven't seen Warner since that day, but his presence lingers in every corner of this compound. It's like the walls are charged with his energy, his control pressing down on me even when he's not physically here. The hum of electricity I felt in my first moments in this room hasn't gone away—it's a constant reminder that I'm being watched, monitored, studied.

I glance toward the small camera perched in the corner, its red light blinking steadily. I wonder if Warner is watching me now, or if it's someone else, someone nameless and faceless. The thought makes my skin crawl.

The faint sound of footsteps echoes from the hallway, growing louder, closer. I tense instinctively, my body on high alert. When the door swings open, it's Kenji again, carrying another tray of food.

"You're starting to feel like my personal waiter," I say dryly, though my voice comes out quieter than I intended.

Kenji flashes me one of his easy, lopsided grins as he sets the tray on the desk. "Hey, don't knock it. I've got a real talent for delivering questionable cuisine."

I glance at the tray. The food looks better than anything I was ever given in the asylum, but I still can't bring myself to trust it. Picking up the fork, I poke at the meal, watching as the sauce pools around the edges.

"You know," Kenji says, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed, "you don't have to act like everything in here is laced with poison."

I narrow my eyes at him. "Isn't it?"

He raises an eyebrow, but his grin doesn't waver. "Fair point. But I can promise you, it's safe. Warner doesn't want you dead. Not yet, anyway."

His attempt at humor falls flat, and I set the fork down with a sigh.

"Why am I here, Kenji?" I ask, my voice quiet but steady. "Why did Warner bring me here?"

Kenji's expression softens slightly, but he doesn't answer right away. He looks at me like he's trying to decide how much he can say without getting himself into trouble.

"Honestly?" he says finally. "I don't know all the details. Warner's not exactly the type to share his grand plans with the rest of us. But... he sees something in you. Something important."

I scoff, crossing my arms over my chest. "That's comforting."

Kenji pushes off the wall and takes a step closer, his expression more serious now. "Look, I know this place sucks. And I know you don't trust me—hell, I wouldn't trust me if I were you. But I'm trying to help you. Even if you don't see it yet."

I don't respond, my gaze dropping to the tray of food.

"Eat," he says softly. "You'll need your strength."

With that, he turns and heads for the door. I watch as he punches in a code on the keypad, the door sliding open with a low hiss.

"Kenji," I say suddenly, surprising even myself.

He pauses, glancing back at me.

"Why do you care?"

For a moment, he just looks at me, his dark eyes unreadable. Then he shrugs, a small, wry smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.