Location: Deep Forest Safehouse – Night
Souta was still. Her wrists raw from the rope. Her throat sore from silence.
Kairi knelt beside her again, gently removing the gag. A cup of barley tea sat untouched in front of her.
"Drink," Kairi said.
Souta said nothing.
Kairi sighed.
"You don't need to believe I'm your mother. You just need to listen. For once."
Souta's eyes were glass.
Kairi continued. "They taught you I was a monster. And maybe I am. But monsters don't love. And I never stopped loving you."
She tucked a loose strand of hair behind Souta's ear.
"You're not prisoners. You're victims of the lie that they raised you better. But blood always remembers."
Souta looked up at her. Quiet. Cold.
And spat.
The spit hit Kairi's cheek.
A breathless silence passed.
Kairi wiped it slowly, then stood.
"Not ready yet," she said.