Liam did not understand why his body felt so heavy.
It was as though invisible chains had wrapped themselves around his thoughts, dragging his consciousness deeper and deeper into an endless sea of darkness. His eyelids grew heavier, his mind slipping further from his grasp until—
Everything faded.
…
While his body slept, faint blue screens flickered through the void.
[.... has granted Host ×3 Memory Fragments.]
[.... has granted Host ??? Affinity.]
[Synchronizing…]
The messages appeared one after another, cold and emotionless, before vanishing into nothingness.
Then—
Liam opened his eyes.
Darkness greeted him.
Not the darkness of night, but something deeper… thicker… endless.
For a brief moment, he thought he had died.
Then a voice shattered the silence.
"Klaus, wake up… we have to get out of here."
The voice was low, urgent, trembling with fear.
Liam blinked.
The darkness around him shattered like glass.
His vision cleared, and suddenly he found himself staring at two boys no older than twelve or thirteen.
One was painfully thin, his skin pale and almost sickly. Messy white hair fell over sharp silver eyes, partially hiding a face that looked far too young to carry so much fear.
The other had short brown hair and a stronger build. His eyes were sharp, intelligent… cautious. Unlike the white-haired boy, there was something fierce in him.
Klaus…
So that's this body's name.
Liam remained silent, observing.
Klaus swallowed nervously.
"I thought… I thought the ritual wasn't until next month."
The brown-haired boy—Finn—let out a bitter laugh.
"So did I."
His expression darkened.
"But it seems the sect leader is getting desperate for a breakthrough."
Finn's fists tightened.
"If we stay here…"
He looked around the cramped room.
"…they'll kill us."
Silence filled the air.
Then Finn's voice dropped lower.
"And they'll use us for materials… just like the others."
The words struck like ice.
Klaus went pale.
Liam felt something strange stir inside him.
Fear.
Not his own.
Klaus's.
The boy's memories, emotions… fragments of his life were slowly merging with Liam's mind.
Klaus lowered his head, his voice barely above a whisper.
"Finn…"
His fingers trembled.
"What can we do?"
Finn looked around carefully before stepping closer.
"I have a plan."
His expression turned grim.
"But it only works if both of us do exactly what I say."
Klaus nodded quickly.
"Tonight."
Finn's voice became even quieter.
"Meet me beneath my quarters."
Klaus's eyes widened.
"But… there are guards everywhere."
Finn's face hardened.
"Do you want to survive… or not?"
The harshness in his voice made Klaus flinch.
Without another word, Finn turned and disappeared into the shadows.
Silence returned.
For the first time, Liam was able to truly look around.
The room was barely large enough for twenty children, yet nearly twice that number were packed inside.
Bodies lay shoulder to shoulder on the cold stone floor.
No beds.
No blankets.
No warmth.
Only cracked walls, the smell of sweat, hunger, and despair.
A single barred window near the ceiling allowed moonlight to spill inside, painting pale silver lines across the stone.
And yet…
No one cried.
No one spoke.
No one even looked hopeful.
Their eyes were empty.
Like livestock waiting for slaughter.
A chill ran through Liam.
What kind of place is this…?
His gaze shifted back to Klaus.
The boy was pacing in his tiny corner, biting his lip so hard it nearly bled.
Step.
Step.
Step.
His breathing grew uneven.
Then—
He stopped.
Slowly…
He looked up.
At the window.
Liam's eyes narrowed.
Don't tell me…
He's actually planning to climb through that.
Time passed slowly.
One hour.
Two.
Eventually, darkness swallowed the final traces of sunlight.
Night had arrived.
Klaus's face was now deathly pale.
His hands shook so badly he had to clench them into fists.
He waited.
And waited.
Until…
The breathing of the other children grew deep and steady.
Most had fallen asleep, conserving what little strength they had.
Klaus slowly approached the window.
Liam could feel his heartbeat.
Fast.
Violent.
Like a war drum.
Boom.
Boom.
Boom.
Klaus had spent weeks studying the guards.
Their patrol routes.
Their blind spots.
Their timing.
Everything.
But there was one problem.
To reach Finn's building…
He would have to climb the outer wall.
With his bare hands.
Klaus stared out the window.
The drop alone was enough to kill him.
Cold sweat ran down his face.
His lips trembled.
"I can do this…"
He whispered to himself.
Even though his voice shook.
"I can do this…"
He swallowed hard.
"If I die…"
His eyes hardened.
"…then I'll just speed up the process."
Liam felt a strange respect.
Fear still consumed the boy.
But he moved anyway.
Slowly, Klaus squeezed through the narrow window.
Cold night air hit his skin like ice.
For a moment, he almost slipped.
His fingers desperately clawed at the grooves between the stone bricks.
His nails scraped against rough rock.
Pain shot through his hands.
But he held on.
And climbed.
One hand.
Then the other.
One foot.
Then the next.
Every muscle in his thin body screamed in protest.
But he climbed.
Like his life depended on it.
Because it did.
Halfway up—
Movement.
Klaus froze.
A guard.
A tall man carrying a lantern and a curved blade at his waist.
He was walking directly toward Klaus's side of the building.
Klaus's pupils shrank.
Shit.
I'm dead.
Liam could feel the panic threatening to crush him.
His breathing became shallow.
His muscles trembled violently.
I've come this far…
I can't go back now.
Klaus bit down so hard blood filled his mouth.
And held still.
The guard came closer.
And closer.
The lantern's glow illuminated the wall.
Just one glance upward…
And it would all be over.
Klaus's heart pounded so violently Liam thought it might burst from his chest.
Boom.
Boom.
Boom.
Sweat dripped from his chin.
His fingers were slipping.
The guard stopped.
Klaus's entire body went numb.
Then—
The man yawned.
Scratched his neck.
And kept walking.
The footsteps faded.
Klaus almost collapsed from relief.
But instead—
He moved.
Fast.
His arms burned as he climbed the final few meters.
Then—
He pulled himself onto the rooftop.
His body slammed against cold stone.
He lay there, gasping for air.
Each breath felt like knives in his lungs.
For several seconds, he couldn't move.
Then slowly…
He lifted his head.
And looked toward the neighboring building.
Moonlight bathed the rooftop in silver.
And there—
Standing perfectly still at the edge—
Was a figure.
Watching him.
Waiting.
And in the pale moonlight…
Finn was smiling.
But for some reason…
That smile made Liam's blood run cold.