{ Mia }
The cave exploded with light.
Golden energy crackled from my fingertips, flying outward like a flock of birds. The force of it sent heat rushing up my arms, my pulse hammering in my ears and sweat trickling down my neck.
" Shit..." I muttered under my breath as the symbols on the walls blazed, responding to me.
For a moment, the shadows around my wrists faltered.
I didn't hesitate.
I yanked my hands free and stumbled backward, landing hard on the uneven cold, and wet stone floor. My breath came in sharp, panicked bursts, but I didn't stop. I pushed up onto my feet, my palms still glowing, ready to fight.
The man, my captor only chuckled.
"Well, well," he mused, tilting his head. "You really are full of surprises aren't you ?"
I didn't give him the chance to say more. I threw my hand forward, releasing another burst of light. It flew toward him, cutting through the thick cave air like a bolt of lightning.
But before it could hit, the shadows moved.
They coiled around him like living smoke, swallowing my attack whole. My stomach dropped.
He sighed dramatically. "Did you really think it would be that easy?"
Panic clawed at my throat, but I swallowed it down. I needed a plan. Fast.
The exit. I had to reach the exit.
My eyes darted toward the mouth of the cave only a few steps away. If I could just get outside, maybe—
Shadows lashed out.
I barely had time to react before something slammed into me, knocking me off my feet. I hit the ground hard, the impact sending a jolt of pain up my side.
A low chuckle echoed through the cave. "Tsk, tsk, Mia. Running already?"
I gritted my teeth. No. I wasn't running. I was surviving.
And I wasn't done fighting.
I quickly bounced back to my feet ignoring the pain spreading through my body.
" Focus Mia focus!!" I whispered under my breath.
I closed my eyes feeling the energy coursing through my veins.
" Go ahead sweetheart.... Tire yourself out...I'll wait..." I faintly heard the man's voice.
I blocked out his voice. His taunts, his presence all of it.
Instead, I focused on the energy humming beneath my skin. It wasn't just light. It was something more. Something alive.
I took a slow breath.
Then I let it explode.
Golden tendrils of energy shot outward, illuminating every inch of the cave. The symbols on the walls pulsed violently, as if feeding off my power.
For a moment, I thought it was working. The shadows recoiled, flickering at the edges. The man even took a small step back, his smirk faltering.
Then, just as quickly, the darkness surged forward.
It slammed into me like a tidal wave, wrapping around my limbs and pulling me off the ground.
I gasped, thrashing, but the more I struggled, the tighter it became.
The man clicked his tongue. "Impressive effort, really. But you're still not strong enough."
I grit my teeth. I refused to let him win.
But as the shadows coiled around me, squeezing the air from my lungs, I realized something.
I wasn't the only one these symbols were reacting to.
They were responding to him, too.
And that meant…
He wasn't just some captor.
He was connected to this place.
And if I could figure out how,
I might just have a chance.
~ caugh caugh caugh ~
" L-let me go!" I pounded my fists on the dark energy as it tightened around my neck.
~ caugh caugh caugh~
" Oh sweetheart... I don't think you understand... You belong to me !" He smirked evily.
"N-no I-I don't b-belong to anyone! Now l-let. Me. Go!"
The shadows squeezed tighter. My lungs burned. My vision blurred.
I couldn't break free by force.
But maybe I didn't have to.
I gritted my teeth, my fingers twitching. My power—it wasn't just light. It was energy. And energy could be unpredictable.
I stopped struggling.
Instead, I let go.
I let the golden light in my hands dim. Let my body go slack. Let him think I was giving up.
The man chuckled. "See? There's no point in fighting me."
I forced myself to stay limp, to keep my breathing ragged, even as I felt the energy gathering beneath my skin.
One chance.
I snapped my eyes open, my heart pounding.
Then I let the light explode.
Not outward, but inward.
A shockwave of golden energy burst from my core, vibrating through the shadows wrapped around me. For a split second, the darkness trembled—disrupted.
That was all I needed.
I twisted my body and yanked myself free, hitting the cave floor in a desperate roll. My limbs ached, but I pushed to my feet, gasping for air.
The man's smirk finally faltered. "What—?"
I didn't wait to hear the rest. I bolted.
My feet pounded against the stone as I sprinted deeper into the cave. I had no idea where I was going, but I knew one thing—if this place reacted to me, if it wanted something from me—then it had to lead somewhere.
The walls pulsed again, symbols flashing like a heartbeat. The deeper I ran, the more they glowed, lighting my path.
Behind me, his voice echoed through the cavern. "Run all you want, sweetheart. You'll only find what I want you to find."
I ignored him and ran faster.
Then, ahead of me—
A passage. Narrow, jagged, but just big enough.
I threw myself into it, slipping through just as a burst of shadow slammed against the rock behind me. The tunnel curved sharply, and I staggered forward, my breath ragged.
I was safe.
For now.
I pressed my back against the cool stone, heart hammering. My hands still tingled with power. The cave knew I was here.
Looking around I saw some drawings of stick fugures then, a thought struck me and I forze. " Ace and Cole are alone, unconsciously and vulnerable!"
" I have to get to them!" I recited determined.