Ray woke to a thrum that seemed to resonate through every bone in his body. Cold metal pressed against his back, chains biting into his wrists and ankles. His head swirled with fragments of memories he could not piece together. He didn't know where he was. He didn't know who he was.
Around him, dozens of humans stirred, their eyes wide with terror, collars glowing faintly at their necks. The light pulsed in rhythm with some alien command, forcing obedience, instilling fear. Ray tried to rise, only for sparks of blue energy to dance along his veins, startling him—and the chains shivered, recoiling as if alive.
A tall alien stepped into the chamber. Translucent skin glimmered with veins of liquid light, its gaze scanning every captive. Commands struck their minds like lightning—submissive whispers, bending wills, draining hope. Every other human obeyed instantly. Ray did not.
Then he saw her. Liora. She stood a few feet away, defiant, unflinching. Her eyes locked on his, a spark of courage igniting something in his chest he didn't understand. Somewhere beneath the haze of amnesia, a whisper of memory called him—not human, not fully human.
As the alien guards approached, Ray clenched his fists, energy flickering along his arms. He might not know who he was…yet. But he knew one thing for certain: he would not bow. Not while that spark still burned.