In a world filled with heroes, villains, and constant power struggles, a man named Theo lived. He was, to put it simply, deemed too-
Droplets of condensed water fell from the cold, stone ceiling. Before heavy boots entered the cell, that was the only sound that broke the silence.
"I'm disgusted to ask you this -" His voice resonated in the cell strongly, mirroring his high rank. " However, we need your help. There's an underground gang that slips away whenever we're close to catching them. We need someone to infiltrate them or find them for us and destroy them." He finishes in one breath.
I stare blankly ahead, my gaze unfocused. I lightly thug at the chains holding me in place. It has been a while since I felt my fingers enough to move them around. Perhaps the nerve endings died from a lack of blood supply.
"And what's in it for me? You see, when I'm no longer needed or useful to you in any way, you're going to dispose of me. Either kill me or chain me back here again."
I lift my eyes. "I don't want a temporary freedom because that's simply going to deepen my awareness of the shitty situation I'm in."
"You won't get freedom." He stated bluntly, his stance firm. He crosses his arms across his chest, not sparing me the disdainful look.
I look at his attire, focusing on the details, analyzing every batch he proudly shows off, plastered across his chest. His rank is probably - "General," I whisper.
General thinks letting his words ripen in my head is working, and decides to speak again. "You destroy the gang, and we let you live."
I shake my head subtly, a movement that a distracted eye could easily miss. "I'm not naive enough to call it freedom and truly mean it. I understand that it's simply an illusion of freedom and benefit in a situation where I have nothing to gain."
The general let out an irritated scoff. "You have much to gain from this." His jaw clenched at Theo's stubbornness, yet he continued. "Don't tell me you'd rather rot in this dungeon with shitty food and not even a whiff of fresh air."
I nod. "As the saying goes, familiar hell is better than unfamiliar heaven." Yet, at times, I get fed up with the familiar hell.
"It's a stupid saying." His cold stare licks my entire being.
It sure is.
"Are you going to take this opportunity or not?" General's expression twisted with irritation, his gaze hardening.
I shake my head and smile softly. Everything is slowly falling into its place.
He takes a step forward. "And what the hell is this supposed to mean?"
I smirk. "I have no desire to help people who wronged me."
General chuckled bitterly at my response, his eyes narrowing in pure annoyance. "Of course." He said, his voice laced with sarcasm. "You're nothing more than an arrogant and stubborn fool."
He closed their distance once more. "You don't care about anyone but yourself."
I chuckle. "Isn't it what life is about? Believing that you're the important one, making selfish decisions, putting your existence above all else." I pause but only to take a shallow breath. "Just like now. General, you made a selfish choice. You opted for an easy path, risking a life that isn't yours to protect your own."
He couldn't believe my audacity and how I spoke with such arrogance.
"I was given orders." His tone grew more defensive. "And what are you going to do? Stand there and act like you're better than me? Don't you remember what got you locked up here in the first place?"
My smile vanishes, and I can't hide the coldness in my voice. "That's right. Now it's flight. You're running away. After all, it's easier to carry out orders and later pin the blame on the authority who gave them instead of using your judgment."
He blinks more than necessary. A familiar chatter of voices emerges from behind the corner. His commanders came to check the situation -impatient snakes. I click my tongue. I almost had him.