The fairy hurried back to the prison, slipped through a crack in the wall, and found Ty asleep on the ground with a still expression on his face. "Aww, he finally fell asleep.
I wonder how he did without--" Her thought trailed off as she noticed something alarming. "Why are there bandages on his arm? Is that dried blood?!?"
Concerned, she blurted, "Ty, what happened!!" In her urgency, she jumped on him, attempting to rouse him from his sleep.
Ty, half in a dream, mumbled, "Not now, Jade. It’s Saturday. We can sleep in a little bit," before rolling over and snoring.
Sighing, the fairy decided to let him rest, understanding the importance of sleep after whatever ordeal he had faced. She nestled herself into his pocket, choosing to take a moment of rest as well.
-
As morning light began to filter through the small openings of the cell, Ty stirred, stretching his limbs and welcoming the new day. The sound of doors opening echoed down the long hallway, heralding Goey’s arrival with a plate of food.
"Hey, looks like you got some good sleep. They should be moving you today, so try not to cause any issues, especially like what happened with Gui," Goey warned, a hint of concern in his voice.
Ty accepted the food from Goey and started eating. "Thanks. I miss when food was optional..."
Goey blinked at him. "Why would you not need food?"
"Oh, don’t worry about it too much," Ty brushed off the question with a wave of his hand. "But where are they moving me now, if you know by chance?"
"I honestly don’t know. It changes every year, but given the rise in rebel attacks, I’d guess somewhere tough.
If I had to bet, probably close to the water, so they can get you on a boat as quickly as possible," Goey speculated, sharing what little he knew about the arrangements.
"I see, thanks," Ty responded, his thoughts turning toward the future. He then looked at Goey with a hint of gratitude. "I hope life treats you well after I leave. You seem like a good person, Goey.
I knew someone who ran a prison when I first visited, and he tried to use me as a toothpick. So, you’re already in my top 10 of people I’ve had the pleasure of meeting."
Goey, visibly touched by Ty’s words, began to respond with gratitude, "Well, thanks, it means a lot. Sorry about the books you had burned. I was going to--" His expression shifted as his waist buzzed, interrupting the moment.
Pulling up the device, he answered, "What is it?"
After a brief exchange, he ended the call with a resigned, "Really? Already? Sounds good, thanks for the heads up."
Clicking off, Goey turned back to Ty, "Looks like they’ve already come to pick you up and a few others. Hurry up and finish the food and be standing at the back of the wall."
Ty nodded and finished his meal fast. "About time, to be honest. The more I sit idle, the more time I feel I’m wasting."
Ty waited by the wall as instructed. Four guards entered the cell, and one warned, "D-Don’t try anything funny, you understand, you damn devil!"
A familiar voice cut in dryly. "He’s fine. Focus on keeping your pride intact."
Ty recognized the voice and called out, "Alek, buddy, how are you doing?"
The sound steadied him. The guards still had their hands on his shoulders, and the mask still waited near the door, but Alek’s dry tone gave the moment an edge of familiarity. Alek had been strange from the beginning, but strange was better than another stranger looking at Ty like he was already a corpse. Ty wanted to ask a dozen questions, starting with why Alek was here and ending with whether anyone in this place actually chose their own side.
Alek offered no response as the guards placed their hands on Ty’s shoulders, ushering him forward with a firm push.
As Ty was briskly escorted out of his cell, the sensation of a mask being slipped over his eyes plunged his world into darkness.
The fabric pressed against his eyelids, not painfully but firmly, a stark reminder of the control and secrecy shrouding his next destination.
The shuffle of feet and distant echoes of the prison’s interior filled the silence as they moved. Ty, undaunted by the blindfolding, focused on the sounds and smells, trying to piece together a map of his journey.
The air grew cooler, and the echo of their steps suggested they were moving through narrower corridors, perhaps winding deeper into or away from the heart of the prison complex.
The journey felt longer without the benefit of sight, each turn and each step forward a leap into the unknown.
Yet, Ty’s resolve remained unshaken, his thoughts not on fear but on the anticipation of what lay ahead. The occasional murmur of voices, the opening and closing of heavy doors, and the changing air told him they were passing through various checkpoints.
Despite the blindfold, Ty sensed a shift in the environment--the air tasted of salt, and the faint sound of water lapping against walls hinted they were near the prison’s water-bound edges.
Finally, the pace slowed, and the sound of a large door creaking open signaled their arrival. The guards’ grips on Ty’s shoulders tightened momentarily before they removed his mask, allowing light to flood his vision once again.
Blinking against the brightness, Ty’s eyes adjusted to an unmarked chamber.
Bare walls threw the sound of their entrance back at them. Ty stood among thirty other people in orange vests, every one of them marked as a contestant.
As his gaze wandered over the gathered group, Ty noted the variety of expressions--some wore determination like armor, while others masked their apprehension behind stoic facades.
The room itself was minimalist, with little more than the bare essentials provided for their brief stay. Narrow windows high above offered the only glimpse of the outside world, casting long shadows across the concrete floor.