In the 90th Hunger Games Under Cover of Night, Kate Wakai achieved victory and discovered who she truly was. Five years later, three survivors of the Town of Shade came under her wing. Now Born Again, five years after that… these survivors are about to change the fate of the world…
Five months Prior to the games.
District Fourteen.
07:00 hours.
In the dim morning light, under a bitter arctic gale, between mounds of snow and a lining of trees, a truck bumps and rattles across a frozen road. Its destination is an expansive prison-fortress, which stretches across the white wilderness as far as the eye can see. Its concrete walls and barbed metal fencing almost extend to the sky, and it's surrounded by watchtowers that flash glaring lights that seem to endlessly circle the prison walls. Yes, this truck is heading for a prison, but not just any prison; it is a prison known far and wide as a bottomless hole where the worst criminals, outlaws, and enemies of the Capitol are sent to rot. An inescapable hell.
Inside the truck, it is all quiet and dark. The prisoners are huddled up against the insides, some asleep, some nearing death but all of them headed for the same destination.
At the far back of the truck is a young man, his head bobbing and swaying from the bumps on the road surface. He is shrouded in a black cloak and hood, which covers his messy, dirty, blond hair. Under the hood is a pale face with scraggly stubble on the chin and two dark, blue eyes with dark bags under them. They are flickering open and closed in his half-awake state.. Two scars run across his face - one over his eye socket, the other over his cheek. Most importantly, in his hands, he clasps a necklace in the shape of a bee, firmly - so that he'll never let go.
A larger bump in the road jolts the young man awake, his tired eyes now wide and startled slightly.
A middle-aged man that's slumped next to him places his hand on his shoulder. "It's alright… you were dreaming," the older man says with a raspy voice.
"I've never seen anyone sleep so much but rest so little," he continues, observing the bags under his eyes.
Suddenly, another man from the right turns to the younger man and pipes up. "You're him! You're Conrad… they've been searching for you for so long…"
Conrad shifts to him blankly. "Why don't ya say that a little louder, I don't think they heard you at the front," he replies sarcastically.
The man's eyes sink in embarrassment. "Sorry."
Suddenly the truck screeches to a halt and the back doors are thrown open, striking the prisoners with a ray of light!
All around, the voices of the prison guards echo through the chilly air and boots march regimentally. Conrad covers his eyes as he's hauled out of the truck and onto the snowy pavement, his hands bound in handcuffs.
Conrad never liked being bound. He was always a free spirit back in District Six; no one could tell him what to do. His name even means "unbound". But then, five and a half years ago, he was reaped for the Hunger Games - and he hasn't been free since. He isn't allowed to be. He's a high-ranking rebel of the Order under Kate Wakai.
But if Conrad is fighting for one thing, then it's to get his old life back - a free spirit racing through the backstreets of District Six.
(Although, somehow, he knows deep down that his old life is nothing more than a distant memory that he'll never get back.)
Despite being surrounded by prisoners and guards, a deep feeling of loneliness creeps through Conrad's heart like an infection refusing to go away. When he's alone, he's afraid because the demons start to haunt him.
As the freezing air bites against his skin, Conrad is escorted along with the other prisoners through the large metal gates which are looming above them, and into the prison courtyard. Conrad is met with more guards barking orders at each other and the prisoners, and even more marching boots. His eyes calmly move between the guards (in their full black body armour) lining the walls, the towers, and the Warden standing above them. Conrad is always fast to scan out his environment; it's a survival instinct, something he learned growing up on the streets of Six.
Although, this time, Conrad has something on his mind beyond survival: escape.
You see, he is not here by accident. He was captured some weeks ago however; after making one failed escape attempt at a smaller prison in Two, he knew he'd be brought here, to Greyson. Otherwise known as "The Hacker," Grey is second in command of The Order and answers to Kate only. Sometimes it's hard for Conrad to believe that these rebel leaders, Kate and Grey, are only just in their mid twenties, and that Conrad himself is only twenty-three. Yet so many people are relying on them. The entire rebellion is relying on them. That is why Conrad isn't here by accident.
He got himself here to break Grey out of jail.
The warden's eyes are on Conrad from above, a hawk trained on its target. He arrogantly folds his arms and smirks down because this prison has a reputation for being inescapable.
After being changed into his new prisoner clothes and having his possessions confiscated, Conrad is then guided inside to an elevator, and then deep down underground. So deep that he thinks for a moment that the walls might start turning to lava.
When the elevator doors eventually slide open, he finds himself pushed roughly by the guards across a large, hollow room containing hundreds of tiny cells. Even as the guards try to appear intimidating, it is hard, under Conrad's 6'2 frame and his muscular build.
The room is multi-story, and so the guards prod Conrad up a metal staircase and past a row of doors until he reaches his own cell in the corner of the room. He is hastily thrown inside without a second thought, and the thick cell door is shut and bolted many times behind him. He spins back around to face the guard outside, but only the guard's helmet is visible through the tiny, barred opening in the middle of the door.
"You're gonna rot in here, guardian angel," the guard says condescendingly. "Ya hear me? Nobody ever gets outta here."
Conrad doesn't respond and simply raises his eyebrows, glancing around the small cell. It is very tiny, grey, and dim… but there is a metal bed and a bathroom at least. The only window out is the small sliver on the door. But above all… it's freezing. Conrad rubs his arms with his hands and shivers to the bone. The hairs shoot up on his skin!
He moves back to the door and calls out to the guard, who's already marching away. "I'm not usually one to complain… but do ya think ya could turn the heating up?" But he receives no answer.
Conrad sighs. "Guess not".
He sinks down to his bed and begins bouncing a bouncy ball off the grey wall in front of him. That just leaves the small task of breaking himself and another high-profile rebel out of the 'Inescapable prison' - he thinks to himself.
He flips the ball up in his hand and catches it. He's faced worse odds, after all. He was reaped for a death game, he killed a career, and somehow he survived. He tries not to cast his mind back to those fateful eleven days. It's painful, like an old injury flaring up.
His body shifts over on his bed, and he finds himself facing the mirror in his bathroom. He wishes he hadn't because even in the dim light, rather than his reflection, someone is staring back, someone unwelcome yet refusing to go away, a parasite in his mind. Taliesin. The boy he brutally murdered in the arena, in an act of revenge. Conrad catches a brief glimpse of him smiling into his soul through the mirror with a deep slash still across his eye as if it had only just been made. The boy from Six's heart jumps with a wave of terror and he rapidly rolls over on his bed to face the other direction.
When night time comes, the lights switch off, casting the entire prison wing into sudden darkness. Although, in the corner of his eye, Conrad notices something. The camera in the top corner of his room tilts down, and a shutter closes over the lens.
Light footsteps patter outside his cell door before coming to a halt.
Someone is here.
A gentle knock vibrates the door. Conrad rises up cautiously from his bed, tip-toeing over and slipping the hatch across on his cell door. On the other side is another guard, although this one is shorter and scrawnier than the last - hardly guard material, Conrad thinks.
"Conrad," he whispers, his voice sounding young - probably a teenager.
"That's me," Conrad responds.
The young guard shoots a large, metal coin through the food hatch in the door and Conrad rapidly collects it between his fingers. The coin has a symbol of an eye carved into it. The marker, it's the marker of The Order.
"Kate Wakai sends her regards," the guard whispers.
"It's about time," Conrad quips back, his eyes returning to the boy from the marker.
"We don't have much time. Grey is due to be executed in two days. You along with him," the guard explains.
"At least they were polite enough to give us two days," Conrad shrugs back, jovially.
"He's being held in another wing… they wouldn't put you two together, but we've arranged for you to be moved. We switched the cameras off… so it has to be done tonight."
Conrad turns, gazing around the room one final time. It sends a shiver up his spine.
"And I was just startin' to get comfy," he quips again, sarcastically whilst raising his eyebrows. Conrad has learned over the years that sarcasm is the best way to deal with stressful situations.
The locks on the door slide open frantically. It swings open, and Conrad is out like a bird flapping out of its cage. It's one step freer than he was seconds ago and that's good enough for him.
Complete silence fills the building, save for the sounds of their frantic breaths as the young guard in disguise hastily guides Conrad across the cold, dark, empty ward.
Conrad notices the boy's hands shaking slightly. "Try to stay calm, kid," he whispers as their feet patter down a staircase.
The boy begins muttering something. "Sorry… I'm… this is my first real mission… also coincidently, I happen to be a big fan.."
"Yeah, never mind that right now," Conrad interrupts him. "Where are you taking me?"
"Oh… urm.. a few wings across from this one," he answers.
They pause outside another barred door separating this wing from the next. The rebel guard scans some kind of keycard on the door, rattling it open.
"When you get to your new ward, you're gonna have to speak to a prisoner known as "The Locksmith…h-he'll fill you in," the boy stutters, rubbing the back of his neck.
Conrad nods. "You got a name?" He asks, casually.
"They call me Q," the boy responds, smiling under his helmet.
"Thank you, Q," Conrad smiles back, but only slightly. (He can't let himself get too close to anyone again.) Then he turns to head into the next ward.
More rebels disguised as guards are waiting to collect Conrad on the other side, fidgeting amongst themselves. They hurriedly drag Conrad into his new cell. Everything is going smoothly… so far…
The next day, the lights snap on sharply at 06:00. Conrad jumps straight up from his new bed, rubbing his eyes, and quickly splashes a handful of cold water over them. He doesn't get much time to process his thoughts, however, as a guard roughly drags him out before shoving him in line with the other prisoners.
The roll call goes well. Conrad guesses this is because the rebels above inputted his name into his ward. Although, he still keeps his head cautiously down, as he's marched even deeper into the prison to a mine.
One name sticks to his mind like gum under a table - The Locksmith. He has to find The Locksmith. Q didn't give him any description or even a clue as to where exactly he is, so he supposes he'll have to ask around.
The guard's voice snaps into his mind, breaking him out of his daydream. "Did yer hear what I just said? Dig! Dig until your arms fall off. That's the only further use you'll serve before you die," the guard orders, gesturing to a pickaxe in the corner of a mine.
Conrad's eyes travel around the mine to find other men hacking away at the rocks like machines. Hacking away in the hopes of finding something. He even wonders for a moment if they are machines with people's skin.
Underneath the scattered, flickering orange lights, there is an eerie silence all throughout the mine. Doesn't anyone talk to each other around here?
Conrad flips the pickaxe elegantly into his hand, and calmly strolls next to another skinnier-looking prisoner.
"What are we diggin' for?" Conrad asks casually in a hushed voice, beginning to chip away at the rock. The prisoner's bloodshot eyes meet his briefly, surprised that someone is talking to him, but they hastily return to the rocks.
"A special element… Saskia is planning something big with it. That's all I know," he croaks. meekly. "If you find any… you get rewarded."
Given this prisoner's state, and that he never even described the element, Conrad is pretty sure he's never found any himself. He also looks to have been here a while, judging by the dirt covering his face and clothes. He also guesses that he's not too fond of the Capitol.
Conrad halts his digging and leans in closer to the prisoner. "I need to find someone known as 'The Locksmith.' Can you help me?"
All of a sudden, Conrad sees something in the prisoner's eyes that he hadn't seen yet - hope. "It's you! You've finally come!" he beams, trying his best to keep his voice down.
"Fate has reached out at last," he continues, his eyes scanning the young man all over.
He nods towards another smaller barred door over on the other side of the mine. "Hurry, you'll have to get past Bourbon the beast, but just tell em' your name and you should get through."
"Should?" Conrad mutters back, but he finds himself shoved towards the door by the prisoner before he can think twice.
The prisoner was right. Leaning in front of the door is a gigantic man, over 6'6, and all muscle. His snarling expression looks like he's ready to tear Conrad's head off, as well.
Conrad gulps. "I'm Conrad Martell, I'm here to talk to the Locksmith," he says, pointing to himself.
Bourbon snarls one last time but then, without saying a word, he unlocks the door for Conrad and gestures inside. Conrad is still wary of the huge prisoner, even as he slips past him into another tunnel.
He proceeds through the narrow, encroaching tunnel under the lantern light, until he finds a turning to the right. There, he finds himself in a much larger cell. There's a large bed, shelves, and a man sitting at a desk with his back to Conrad, scribbling something down.
Conrad clears his throat. "I'm guessing you're The Locksmith?" He asks calmly.
The man places the pen down and shifts around on his chair to face the rebel. "I am," he answers.
Shock envelops both of them when their eyes meet. They know each other. This man is Orion Hardbloom, the Head Gamemaker of the 95th Hunger Games … Conrad's Hunger Games. The years haven't been easy on him. The hair on his head and face are greying, and he's wrinkled with tired eyes. His mouth is half agape.
"As I live and breathe… Conrad Martell. I had no idea Kate would send you," he exclaims, his eyes wide.
Something snaps deep inside Conrad. Something he hasn't felt for a long time. His calm, jovialness in the face of danger has evaporated out of the room. His fists and jaw clench tight and Orion notices this.
"I suppose… you have a lot you'd like to say to me," he murmurs.
Conrad doesn't answer, he just glares at the former Head Gamemaker. It's as though he's been cast back to the horrors of that arena in a kind of trance, staring at the man who designed it all. His life in the arena was a separate one and it's flashing before his eyes right in front of the Capitolite.
Orion continues to speak, to try to bring Conrad back to the present moment. "So what will it be? You wanna find your pal? You wanna know how to get out of here? Or do you want revenge for sending you to die? Which is it?"
Conrad strides forward uncontrollably as if he's walking towards the boy from Four, and he seizes Orion aggressively by his shirt, slamming him against his cell wall! "Yeah, let's start with revenge! Sounds good to me!" he blurts.
Although he's not thinking about revenge for the suffering he went through. He's thinking about Beckett - the boy who'll never come back. He's thinking about Nadia, Serenity, and Seia.
But Conrad has tasted revenge before, and he didn't like it much. It tasted sour, and it made him feel hollow inside. So, slowly, he loosens his grip on Orion's shirt.
Orion gasps for air. "Whether you like it or not, you need me to get out of here," he breathes. Conrad releases him completely and the man dusts himself off.
"So… what's your plan?" Conrad asks bluntly.
"We're breaking out tonight. You'll be released from your cell at midnight, then you'll meet us here," Orion answers. That means they're all getting out, including the prisoner Conrad spoke to in the mine. Conrad's fists unclench a little at this thought, and he shifts around to head back to the mine.
"Wait… Conrad," Orion mutters from behind him. Conrad pauses but doesn't spare a glance back at him.
"I know you probably don't wanna hear it from me, but it broke my heart sending all those kids to die every year… that's how I ended up here," he stutters, gesturing to his cell. "And for what it's worth… I-I'm sorry."
"Can you tell that to Beckett?" Conrad murmurs coldly in response. Then he leaves, back through the tunnel, storming past Bourbon, this time without fear. Only anger.
That night an electric current buzzes and spikes, keeping the orange light bulbs above the prisoner's meeting room lit. Under the light, Orion sits in the middle with Bourbon sitting next to him, puffing his chest out. The other prisoners sit around the two of them in a circle. Conrad sits opposite Orion, leaning forward impatiently to await instruction.
"Your people on the inside informed me of an ancient underground rail network that connects all of the Districts, a relic from a civilization centuries ago," Orion explains. "Unfortunately, the only way to access it is through a hatch leading to a tunnel underneath the guard barracks."
His eyes then focus on Conrad. "In order to pull this off, we're gonna have to create enough of a disturbance for you to grab your man and join us at the tunnel. In about five minutes your guards up above will release all of the prisoners. That gives us about a thirty-minute window to get out of here. This is our only shot."
Conrad shoots up from his chair, immediately heading toward the staircase to the next ward. "Try to be quick," the skinny prisoner calls from below, and Conrad sends them a reassuring nod.
Once out of the mine, he follows a corridor past all the cells containing sleeping inmates. The five-minute timer counts down in his head; his heart is beating at the pace of the ticking clock in his head. His breaths begin to pick up momentum. If he pulls this off, it will be news all across Panem.
Just like the timer back before he leapt off his pedestal in the arena, the seconds tick down in a voice.
8… 7… 6…
He presses his hands up against the cold, steel, vaulted door.
4… 3.. 2… 1
A buzzer rings overhead, cutting into his ears! In an instant, all the doors swing open, and the entire prison goes from slow confusion to complete chaos in seconds!
Conrad thunders forward across the metal grating of the prison ward to where he was informed Grey is being held, hectically shoving inmates out of his way as he does it!
After sliding down the metal railings on the staircase, he reaches a single solitary box, right at the end of the ward. The door is already swung open, so Conrad proceeds straight inside. There he finds his comrade, leaning against the wall of his cell, shirtless, pale, and with long, unkempt hair. Next to him is an ominous-looking machine that they no doubt used to force information from him.
Conrad snaps his fingers to get the young rebels' attention. "Sir!"
Grey's head slowly rises up to the tall boy, and even in his tortured state, a glimmer of light infects his eyes at the sight of his Guardian Angel. "You might be needing this," Conrad smirks, tossing him a shirt that he collected from a metal stool. Grey catches the shirt in his left hand, stumbling over to Conrad as he puts it on.
"We haven't got much time," Conrad informs him, grabbing him by the hand.
Together, they race through the prison ward, as guards and inmates battle each other ferociously. As they reach the top of a staircase, a guard suddenly tackles Grey from their left. "Not so fast!"
Conrad immediately comes to his defence! He leaps into the air and lands a spinning back kick into the guard, smashing his heel into his chest, and sending the guard tumbling over the edge with a scream!
(A new move taught to him by his mentor, Tatiana.)
"Come on!" He continues to help Grey along whilst also knocking several guards and inmates out of the way.
Grey was never a fighter - but luckily, he has Conrad by his side.
Conrad makes a quick stop to where the first guard confiscated his things - only to floor the guard with his fist, retrieving his bee necklace in the process.
They make it out into the courtyard and the freezing night air immediately attacks their skin! The voices of the frantic guards echo all around with lights from the watchtowers crawling across the courtyard in search of them.
"Over here!" A voice calls from across the courtyard. It's that prisoner from the mine. He's waving to Conrad.
"Who's that?" Grey stutters, his teeth chattering together.
"A… new friend. Don't worry - I've got everything under control," Conrad assures him.
"I'll believe that when I see it," Grey quips back.
Together, they jog over to where the man is waiting for him. He leads them underground again into a bunker. Inside, Orion is waiting with the last five of his men, now armed with guns. Around them, on the floor, dead or unconscious guards are scattered about at their feet.
"What are we all standing around for?" Grey questions, glancing around at the men. Orion raises his eyebrows, and gestures to another barred door, standing in between them and the way out.
"We were told your people above would have it open by now," He says to Grey, tapping his foot impatiently.
Just then, marching boots suddenly rattle above them again, becoming louder, and louder. Conrad gathers an assault rifle in his hands and then tosses another to Grey.
Side by side, they back up against the barred door, aiming their guns down the hallway. Orion's men begin exchanging fire with the now fully armed guards. The guards collapse in a heap at the end of the corridor whilst Orion loses two men in the crossfire.
The prisoner from the mine is the first to fall.
"We're outta time," Orion shouts, taking cover from the oncoming fire!
"Anytime now would be great guys, no pressure," Conrad calls up to the ceiling. And suddenly, a wave of nostalgia and sadness hits him. For a fleeting moment, he's brought back to the fourth day of the arena.
The careers kicking the door in, as he held it shut for Beckett.
"Anytime now would be great, bud, no pressure!"
He can't escape the memories, no matter how hard he tries.
Just at that moment, right on time, the door is finally activated, and Conrad and Grey practically fall back through it! However, when Conrad's eyes meet Orion's, he notices the startling realization as they go down to the grenades in his jacket. If any of them are going to make it, then some of them aren't.
His eyes travel back to Conrad's, now clear as day. "I can't bring your friend back, nor can I undo the trauma that I inflicted on you… but I hope you'll take this as my real apology," he announces, bringing the grenades out in his hands. "Now go! Both of you! You only have seconds to spare."
While the last of Orion's men die to gunfire, Conrad's eyebrows furrow with sorrow. He sends the former Head Gamemaker one final nod before the man charges wildly at the guards, a final cry shattering the room!
Conrad drags Grey by the arm to find the hatch. After ripping it open, they both stare in amazement and terror at how endlessly it descends down into the pitch-black depths.
At first, their eyes just awkwardly move between the tunnel and each other; however, the screams from Orion and the guards force them down!
A metal ladder extends downwards as far as their eyes can see. One after the other, they take a hold of it, and begin hesitantly clambering below…
BOOM
An explosion rocks the entire building! Conrad and Grey's hands are jolted in shock, and they soon find themselves sliding uncontrollably down the metal surface of the ladder, screaming!
A glare suddenly lights up Conrad's eyes as the fiery explosion travels overhead, across the open hatch. But, it soon disappears from view entirely, as they slide deeper and deeper into the depths and the empty silence…
The two sole survivors of the escape from District Fourteen tumble over each other at the very bottom of the ladder, panting and sweating heavily.
Conrad is the first to clamber to his feet, dusting his ugly prison clothes down. Grey is still crumpled on the floor, chuckling to himself as he runs his fingers through his silky hair.
Conrad extends his hand forward to help his weary rebel friend up.
"That was reckless, you should know better than that… thank you," Grey smiles, as Conrad drags him up to his feet by the hand.
It's only at that moment that it dawns on them. Where the hell are they? Another dark tunnel lies in front of them, leading only one way, but this one is much wider and grander. Perhaps it was built by that past civilization that Orion was talking about.
"Tatiana and Darrah should be waiting for us down here," Conrad says coldly, as they trace their way through the tunnel. Some magic did happen between Conrad and Grey years ago, but Conrad found it was easier to push people away. He won't allow himself to get close to anyone again; it only ends in pain.
As they proceed through the seemingly never-ending, expansive corridor, Conrad sees light… blue flickering light on the walls. Many dangling wires and buttons hang from across them. After they've turned another corner, Conrad's feet begin to feel weary. He can't imagine how Grey must be feeling. It's a good job then, that they finally spot two girls huddled up around a fire. Both of them are dark-haired. One of the girls has piercing blue eyes, and distinctive freckles. Conrad recognizes them instantly…Darrah and Tatiana. They are survivors, just like him.
Darrah springs up from her sitting position as soon as she sees the boys, and bounds excitedly over to them. "We were starting to think you'd never show up!" the eighteen-year-old exclaims.
Tatiana paces over more hesitantly with her hands in her pocket. Conrad doesn't want to feel close to people, but here, he finds he doesn't have a choice as they embrace him and Grey. These people have been like family over the last few years, after all. At last, a small warmth radiates his heart, even if it is fleeting.
"It's good to have you back sir," Darrah says to Grey after hugging him. "Thanks… urgh it still feels weird to be called that," he shivers. His tired gaze then moves between the group. "So… any idea where we're going?"
The three of them awkwardly exchange silent glances until Darrah finally pipes up. "Well, it's a good job one of us did our homework," she smirks, stretching her fingers out. "I mapped the whole place out before we left… follow moi," she smiles, bounding onwards.
Conrad's, Tatiana's and Grey's eyes move between each other before trailing the eccentric girl.
Darrah's voice continues to bounce excitedly between the tunnels. "Yer know what I found intriguing about this place during my hours of research? It's so advanced… the people who made it, seem to have been centuries ahead of us…" "That's fascinating," Tatiana interjects, half sarcastic.
And Conrad suddenly finds himself falling behind them. He's not entirely sure why, exhaustion, confusion, or maybe… something else.
He's suddenly aware of that unwelcoming parasite's presence again.
A familiar condescending tut fills the tunnel. "Conrad. Conrad. Conrad." It's Taliesin's voice.
Conrad's heart almost jumps out of his chest. He's here. Bloodtide himself fades in from the darkness, his hands arrogantly behind his back as usual, a fresh bloody gash still across his eye from where Conrad sliced it out all those years ago. Taliesin has the same venomous grin plastered on his face that he always had.
Conrad crumbles down in a heap, his eyes wide and his breaths heavy.
"I… I killed you," he stutters, bewildered. "Yes, that was quite something Connie boy, hanging me from that rope… but you should have known it would take more than death to get rid of me." Taliesin grins. "Now that I'm stuck in your head, I've never been more alive," he continues, throwing his arms out in victory. "And it won't be long until I make you kill again."
Conrad jumps up to his feet, swinging wildly at the boy. But it has no effect, and Taliesin slowly fades away until he's vanished, cackling.
While Conrad lives - Taliesin lives… or his memory does, and that's something that haunts Conrad.
So, he races on to catch up with the others, panting wildly. He hadn't realized how far behind he had fallen.
"Well… he can't have gone far," Tatiana exclaims just as Conrad turns the corner. Their eyes all fall on him. "No, he hasn't," he announces, trying to appear calm but everyone can see the panic in his eyes. "We need to go.
He strolls forward, but Grey places his hand on the taller guy's shoulder to stop him. "You good?" He questions.
Conrad nods. But no one, not even himself, believes it.
"Was it Taliesin again?" Tatiana asks, genuine concern in her eyes, but his name alone sends a spike of anxiety and dread through Conrad's heart. "Taliesin?" Grey muses, furrowing his eyebrows. "Oh, he didn't tell you about that?" Tatiana continues.
"Please!" Conrad snaps, interrupting them. "Please don't say his name," he pleads.
"Sorry," they both mutter in unison, their eyes falling down.
But Tatiana's eyes go back to Conrad. "I'm just worried about you. I'm your friend first, mentor second, remember," she smiles, sincerely. Conrad returns a slight smile.
Then Conrad feels Darrah's hand on his shoulder. "Yeah… we're here for you, just stick close to us… try not to fall behind, ok?" She reassures him.
His eyes move between his friends. "Thanks," he mutters and his heart relaxes ever so slightly. Conrad knows that Darrah and Tatiana have their own demons to face from the arena. So they get it, more than anyone else.
The group then continue on, keeping a tight perimeter around each other as they encroach on the underground train track. "Still, this is the coolest we've ever looked, I swear," Darrah mutters.
As the dark, seemingly endless tunnel continues to encroach around them, Tatiana, Darrah and Grey continue to chat amongst themselves. Even though Conrad keeps a distance behind them, he finds himself glad of something, glad that he's not alone because when he's with them, the demons don't haunt him..
Hello everyone! My name is Nautics and welcome to my final syot. Sorry if this prologue was a little long lol I just had a lot of story to tell. For anyone new, my verse is only loosely based on canon, for the most part I like to do my own thing inspired party by the games and stuff i've played. I'm planning to go into a lot of different sci-fi elements in this story. Also the subplot characters are all either my submitters OCs from previous stories or my own! Hope you enjoyed meeting them! Anyway, so I don't ramble on too much, this is an open syot and the from, interest tracker and worldbuilding info is on my profile. You can send your character on ff or discord. Hope to hear from you soon - Jay