Kai POV: I tried to get some sleep, but my chest felt tight and uncomfortable, so I had to wake up in the middle of the night. And it was too late to wake anyone else, but the pain wasn't that bad.

I stretched as well as I could and looked over at her. She was sleeping peacefully, with an arm around her bandaged stomach. I didn't think that she was still alive. The last time I saw her…

I shook my head, don't think about that. It's the last thing you need.

I sighed heavily and closed my eyes. I really want to sleep, and I started to cough a little. And that irritated my chest wound.

I hate being injured so much.

My cough got worse and it was starting to get hard to breathe. And I found myself

Choking…

I forced my eyes open and I was back in his grasp. I immediately started kicking my legs at him. But he didn't even budge and I was panting heavily, staring at him. His grip tightened and I couldn't breathe. Soon he raised his ragged blade and pointed it at me and…

"Kai!" someone yelled and I shot up.

All I could do was try to catch my breath, then I felt all the pain. I groaned loudly as someone gently pushed me back and placed something on my face. Once the pain went back down and I could breathe normally I saw it was Zane who helped me.

He looked scared and concerned as he stood over me. After I relaxed he said, "Are you okay?"

"Now I am…" I croaked out. My voice sounded raw and tired.

"Kai… did you have another nightmare?" I looked away and nodded.

He quietly sighed and adjusted my mask to stay on my face before saying, "It might be a good idea to talk about what happened…"

I didn't say anything, but I know he's right. I'm going to hurt myself if this continues. But I don't know if I can.

Zane just sat at the foot of my bed and waited on me. He was leaving a door open, and I can't ignore it.

I sigh deeply and say, "I… managed to escape not long after they brought me there."

"How?" he asked in a casual tone.

"I somehow caught them off guard. But…" I didn't look but I could hear my heartbeat getting faster.

"Take your time, you don't need to rush." Zane said, scooting closer.

I nodded, and took a shaky breath. After a few moments I continued, "But I was chased constantly, mostly by the goons. And a couple of the generals…"

Zane looked confused and asked, "So it was an army that took you?"

"Something like that. I managed to take out a lot of them over time, and that gained… his attention." I looked down when I said that.

"Him? Do you mean the commander?"

"...not exactly. He always had an eye on things. But his second in command only got involved then…" I had to stop.

I squeezed my eyes shut as the memories were forcing themselves up. The image of the giant smoking dark grey armored warrior as he stood over me. His ragged and broken sword in his hand and his hollowed, emotionless eyes staring right through me.

"Kai." Zane saying that broke me out of that memory.

"Sorry." I said.

"Don't be. …This is just a guess, but was the second in command responsible for your chest wound?" Zane said.

I looked at it and nodded, remembering when it happened.

.

.

.

I ran through the south castle as fast as I could. I got separated from her, but I don't think she should have much trouble.

I found an empty room and leaned against the pillar to catch my breath. These guys are relentless.

Then someone grabbed my shoulder and threw me into the wall on the other side, and dislocated my shoulder. I lost my breath and coughed it out. I looked up to see who surprised me and went cold.

It was the second in command.

He was dressed in his dark armor, his sword looking broken as always, and his hollowed eyes glaring at me.

Without saying anything, he rushed at me and I barely blocked the blow. But he grabbed my arm and threw me to the ground and stabbed downwards. I rolled out of the way and jumped back to get some distance between us. However, he was already up and after me, slashing his sword. I could barely keep up.

But I saw an opening after a heavy slash and tried to take it, but somehow he expected it and shoved me back. And grabbed my neck, making it hard to breathe.

He lifted me up and I tried to kick out of his grasp. But he didn't even flinch, though he didn't really do anything. He just stared at me as I struggled.

Finally he pointed his sword at me…

…and shoved it into my chest.

I screamed and he yanked it out, and dropped me harshly on the ground. I panted heavily from the pain, and it was a lot of pain. It was hard to think straight, but I slowly dragged myself away from him. And he just let me, like he knew he had won. I had no choice but to burn the wound a little to stop the bleeding.

However, he noticed this and walked closer to finish me off. But I can't go out like this.

With my free hand I focused as much fire as I could and blasted him hard.

But instead of getting pushed back he screaked and soon exploded into… ash?

I wasn't expecting that. I stood up, trying to ignore the pain. And failing, but I looked at the ash. It was just like normal ash, but it had some blood red in it.

These guys aren't alive, but they're not dead either. Who, or what, are these guys?

Suddenly I heard the guys from before running outside and looked behind me. They weren't here, but they could be coming, I have to go now. I looked around and saw another door, and ran out.

"Kai…" Zane suddenly said, and I was pulled out of that memory.

He had a shocked look on his face that was mixed with concern, and he was closer now. And I felt some tears on my face, which made me realize.

…I said that all out loud, and he heard it all.

I could feel my heart pounding out of my chest, and my breathing was becoming faster. A panic attack. Zane went to work, talking to me but I couldn't hear him. However, I soon felt heavier and more tired, meaning he was sedating me.

That's fine, I really didn't want to talk about that. Not right anyway at least.

Zane POV: After sedating him I thought over what he told me, or rather what he let slip out. He went through a bigger trauma than what we thought, and that's not good.

I looked him over again, just noticing how much weaker he seemed than before. Like his whole body suffered with his mind. I wished I could erase all this pain for him, but I couldn't.

He needed to overcome this, but I hope he doesn't try to do this by checking his vitals again I left the room, knowing I had to tell the others at least the minimum so we could help him more.

? POV: I kept my eyes closed, but I woke up when the person walked in the room. And heard Kai's story. I knew that he was taken out, but I didn't know it was Kai who finished him. That's going to make him a target, but then again I'm one too.

That's why I have to leave as soon as I can.