The city had never felt so still.
Matilda stood in front of the hidden building, her heart pounding violently in her chest. It was a forgotten part of the city — a place whispered about only in the darkest corners of rumor. A place where broken things were either mended… or destroyed.
Beside her, the old man handed her a small silver vial. Its contents shimmered under the dim streetlights like captured moonlight.
"This is it," he said gravely. "A serum designed to sever the engineered bonds. But once it's used, there's no turning back."
Matilda clutched the vial tightly, feeling the weight of destiny pressing against her bones. "Where is he?" she whispered.
The old man tilted his head toward the looming building.
"Inside. But beware... Daniel knows you're coming. He won't let you have him easily."
Without another word, Matilda pushed open the heavy doors, stepping into darkness.
---
Inside, the air was thick, almost suffocating. Dim lights flickered overhead as she moved down the endless hallway, every step echoing like a gunshot.
And then she saw him.
Jayden.
Chained to a chair in the center of the room, his head hanging low, his clothes torn and bloodied. His breathing was shallow, each exhale a whisper of suffering.
Tears welled up in Matilda's eyes. How had it come to this?
Before she could run to him, a slow, deliberate clap filled the room.
Daniel emerged from the shadows, a cruel smirk on his face. His once-bright eyes were now cold voids.
"You made it," Daniel drawled, his voice laced with mockery. "I was wondering how long it would take for your little heart to bring you here."
Matilda glared at him, hiding the trembling of her hands.
"Let him go," she demanded.
Daniel chuckled darkly. "Let him go? Oh no, Matilda. You don't understand. Jayden chose this. He chose me. He chose loyalty over love."
Jayden stirred weakly at Daniel's words, but he remained silent, as if trapped within a prison inside his own mind.
"You're lying," Matilda spat. "He never chose this."
Daniel shrugged lazily. "Believe what you want. But if you think you can just walk in here and steal him away... you're a fool."
Matilda took a deep breath, feeling the vial burning against her skin. She knew she had one chance — and she had to take it.
Without warning, she lunged forward.
Daniel moved fast — faster than she remembered — but not fast enough. She smashed the vial against Jayden's chains, the serum splashing across the cold metal and into his wounds.
For a heartbeat, nothing happened.
Then Jayden screamed — a sound so raw, so soul-shattering that it froze the blood in Matilda's veins.
His body convulsed violently as the bonds inside him shattered one by one. Memories, loyalties, pain — all of it was being ripped from him, leaving behind only chaos.
Daniel roared in fury and rushed at Matilda, but she stood her ground, shielding Jayden with her own body.
"You can't save him!" Daniel shouted, rage twisting his features. "Even if you free him — he'll be broken! He'll be nothing!"
Matilda looked back at Jayden — and in that moment, she saw it.
A flicker.
A tear sliding down his bloodied cheek.
And then… his eyes opened.
Clear. Bright. Terrified.
But free.
"Matilda…" he whispered, his voice cracked and broken.
Relief flooded her so fiercely it brought her to her knees.
Daniel growled and lunged again, but suddenly, Jayden moved — pulling Matilda behind him with a strength born from pure instinct.
"No more," Jayden rasped, his voice filled with quiet rage. "No more chains. No more lies."
And for the first time in years, Jayden stood against Daniel — as himself.
Unshackled.
---
Outside, the first light of dawn broke over the horizon, bleeding soft gold into the battered city.
Inside the building, the final battle for freedom had begun.
But whether they would survive it... was a story yet to be told.
---