This is the worst.
That was the first thought that crossed my mind as I lay against the cold metal wall, staring at the dim ceiling lights flickering above my cell. My body ached everywhere—deep, dull pain that refused to fade. My arm throbbed where Frostbyte had shot me earlier, the wound half-healed but still burning.
I hadn't slept. Not even for a moment.
My vision swam, edges blurring in and out of focus. Time felt meaningless here. Minutes stretched into hours. Hours bled into nothing.
How long do they plan to keep me here?
What are they waiting for?
Footsteps echoed faintly in the corridor.
Slow. Deliberate.
Someone was coming.
I forced myself upright, teeth grinding as pain shot through my side. My heartbeat quickened—not with fear, but with preparation. If this was another round of torture, I needed to be awake. A mistake now could cost more than pain.
The cell door slid open with a sharp hiss.
Cold air rushed in.
A familiar presence filled the room.
"Ah… Ryze, the Starlink Sniper," a voice said lightly. "You're still alive, huh? Good thing I didn't aim for anything lethal earlier."
A chuckle followed.
My eyes narrowed, trying to focus through the haze. I could barely make out his silhouette at first—tall, confident posture, cloak brushing the floor.
That aura…
I knew it.
"…Frostbyte," I muttered.
Commander Frostbyte stepped fully into the light, pristine as ever. His white cloak bore no wrinkles, the Empire crest gleaming as if polished just for this moment. Behind him stood two Imperial guards—one armed with a rifle, the other gripping a sword. His personal hounds.
"So you recognize me," Frostbyte said with mock surprise. "Impressive, considering you look half-dead."
I smirked weakly. "You're back already? What—miss me that much?"
He tilted his head, studying me like a curious experiment.
"I can't believe you still want to play games, Starlink Sniper."
He waved a hand, and the guards stepped back slightly, remaining near the door.
"Well," Frostbyte continued, clasping his hands behind his back, "I don't like wasting time. So let's get straight to the point."
I stayed silent.
"The Resistance has been… inconvenient lately," he said calmly. "You keep getting in the Empire's way. Sabotaging supply routes. Interfering with operations. Stirring chaos."
I let out a dry laugh. "Of course we are. We're the Resistance. You expect us to sit back and watch while the Empire conquers defenseless games?"
His eyes flickered—amused, not angry.
"You really believe that's what we're doing?" Frostbyte asked.
I met his gaze despite the dizziness. "I know it is."
He took a slow step closer.
"Tell me, Ryze," he said softly, "what do you think happens to worlds without order?"
I didn't answer.
He sighed, disappointed. "Such passion. Such conviction. And yet…"
He crouched in front of me, lowering himself to my eye level.
"What do you want from me?" I demanded. "You're not dumb enough to keep me alive without a reason."
His smile returned. "Oh, you noticed? Maybe you're smarter than the reports give you credit for."
He rose again. "But still… a Starborn abandoning her original game just to throw herself into chaos. Fascinating."
"It was my choice!" I snapped. "I didn't abandon anything!"
"what ever you say" Frostbyte replied coolly.
He turned and tapped a command on a wrist device.
A holographic screen flickered to life beside him.
Images appeared.
Me.
SK.
Falling through the void.
Blaze cutting open my cell.
SK standing guard beside us.
My stomach dropped.
"Now," Frostbyte said, voice smooth as ice, "let's talk about your relationships."
I clenched my fists.
"What relationships?" I shot back. "You seem to already know everything."
"Oh, I do enjoy confirmation," he said. "According to reports, you, SK the Reaper, you two fell together in the void. Blaze rescued both of you."
He turned back to me.
"So tell me, Ryze… what exactly is your connection to Imperial Officer SK?"
My heart slammed against my ribs.
This was it.
If I answered wrong—if I hesitated even once—SK was finished.
I forced myself to laugh.
"Connection?" I scoffed. "You're joking, right?"
Frostbyte watched me closely.
"She's Empire," I continued quickly. "I'm Resistance. That makes her my enemy. End of story."
He raised an eyebrow. "Is that so?"
"Yes," I said firmly. "We have no connection. No relationship. No feelings. Nothing."
I glared at him. "If you think I'd trust an Empire officer, you're even dumber than you look."
The guards stiffened.
Frostbyte didn't.
Instead, he smiled wider.
"Such hostility," he murmured. "Almost convincing."
I felt sweat trickle down my back.
"If SK is helping you," he said lightly, "her career is over. You understand that, don't you?"
My breath caught—but I didn't let it show.
"She's not helping me," I said coldly. "She's doing her job."
"And Blaze?" Frostbyte asked. "The veteran. What is he to you?"
"No one," I replied instantly. "Just another Empire dog."
The word tasted bitter in my mouth.
Frostbyte circled me slowly.
"You're lying," he said calmly. "But not for yourself."
I stayed silent.
"You're protecting them," he continued. "Interesting."
I lifted my head defiantly. "Believe whatever you want."
He stopped in front of me.
"You know," Frostbyte said softly, "people often reveal more by what they refuse to say."
He leaned down, close enough that I could feel the cold radiating from him.
"If SK truly meant nothing to you… you wouldn't be trying so hard."
My pulse pounded in my ears.
"She doesn't," I said, forcing the words out. "I don't care what happens to her."
A lie.
A necessary one.
Frostbyte studied my face for a long moment.
Then he straightened.
"Very well," he said. "We'll continue this conversation later."
He turned toward the door.
"But understand this, Starlink Sniper," he added without looking back. "If I find proof that SK or Blaze are aiding the Resistance…"
He paused.
"…I won't be as merciful next time."
The door slid shut behind him.
The cell plunged back into silence.
I sagged against the wall, breath shaking.
SK… Blaze…
Please don't come near me again.
I can't let them fall because of me.
Not now.
Not ever.