"That's the system of a rabbit," Skyler said, waving her hand as if brushing the idea away. "But we aren't here for that."
She glanced at the others, eyes narrowed with thought. Then her voice dropped. "Acarias... '
Elsie leaned in and whispered, "Is that his name"
Skyler tilted her head toward Elsie. "You were trying to say something?"
"It's... it's okay," Elsie murmured, her voice barely above a breath. Her eyes flicked toward the entrance, then down at her fingers, twisting nervously in her lap.
Just then, the wooden door creaked open. Acarias stepped in, arms full of herbs and clinking glass vials. He froze mid-step. His sharp eyes scanned the room — Skyler, Elsie, and Mela all standing there, looking like they'd been waiting for him for hours.
The handmaid? And... what are they doing here? he wondered silently, eyebrows knitting. What could they possibly want?
"We need your help," Elsie said. Her voice cracked, and her eyes gleamed with something between fear and hope. "Please."
Acarias looked at her, then shifted his gaze to Skyler, sensing the tension in the air. "What is it?" he asked, stepping closer. As they began to speak, he turned to his workstation, pouring and grinding ingredients — violet petals, a pinch of silver dust, something dark and bubbling in a flask.
Mela's voice broke the tension. "You said you had an idea," she said to Skyler. "So? Bring it."
The room hushed. Time seemed to hold its breath.
Skyler stepped forward, her voice low and deliberate. "A sleeping liquid," she said. "We serve it to the guards. Just a sip..."
She lifted her hand and dragged it slowly across the edge of her neck, miming their collapse. "And they fall, Instantly."
Elsie gasped, her whole body recoiling. "What?! Kill them? No—no, I can't—"
"No!" Skyler interrupted, waving her hands in panic. "No, not that! Sorry—my sign language, I... I meant sleep, just sleep!"
Elsie released a shaky breath. "Aah... okay. Good. I thought—never mind."
Skyler nodded. "Do we have the liquid prepared?"
Mela crossed her arms. "And who's going to go out there and actually serve this thing to them, hmm?" Her eyes darted from face to face, though everyone knew who she was really talking about.
The room was silent for a beat too long.
Then, a voice cut through the tension.
"It's you, of course," said Z-12, arms folded, eyes locked on Mela. "You've got access to that sector. More than any of us. You're our best shot."
The plan had begun. And there was no turning back now.
Many thoughts raced through Mela's mind, overlapping like waves in a storm. This wasn't just a mission—it was betrayal. Betrayal of the Council. Betrayal of Commander Verde. If they caught her… the punishment would be beyond harsh—it would be legendary. A traitor's fate. Possibly death.
Unless…
She thought of Yamin—the one person who might speak for her. Who might plead, stand before the court and beg for mercy on her behalf. Maybe, Mela thought. Maybe she'd pull me from the noose. But mercy was rare, and punishment was constant.
Her mind spun. The others were watching, waiting. The silence was heavy. All eyes turned to her.
What would she say?
"…Yeah. I'll do it," she finally breathed, her voice steady, but her heart pounding like war drums.
---
Meanwhile...
Yamin sat alone, deep in thought. She hadn't replied yet. She had something bigger gnawing at her spirit—something personal.
She wanted to get Tony out of the council cell. She had to. But there was a problem. Gabby was with him.An escapee.
The Council wouldn't hear her out if she proposed freeing both. Impossible, they'd say. The only way around this? Convince Jasmine—her older sister.
Jasmine had influence, authority... and a soft spot for Yamin.
That was the crack in the wall.
Jasmine cared. She'd protected Yamin before. She listened to her—too much sometimes, letting emotion overrule reason. Yamin had swayed her with words before. But this? This wasn't like convincing her to spare a merchant's child or delay a punishment. This was treason.
Still, it was her only shot.
Back at the lab—in the infirmary—
The group sat in a tight circle around the wooden table, medical tools clinking in the background. The walls were lined with glass jars and faded books
They were planning. Calculating. Hoping.
Then Mela leaned forward. Her voice cracked the silence.
"I forgot to mention... Tony wasn't alone. He was with—someone. An escapee. Gabby. I don't know how they met or why. But it happened."
Elsie's eyes widened. "Then… we plan to save both?"
"No," Mela said quickly. "Too risky. She's an escapee. If we try that, we all go down."
Z-12, who had been sitting silently in the corner, arms crossed and brow furrowed, suddenly moved. He raised his eyes, slow and sharp.
"They'll wake up," he said. "The guards. They'll remember everything. Then what?" He pointed straight at Mela. "You get caught. Game over."
Everyone went quiet. A hush fell like a curtain.
Z-12 stood, walking slowly toward the shelves, then turned back, a flicker of something wild in his eyes.
"Unless," he said. "We add a portion. A cleanse. Something to erase the memory—wipe it clean. They sleep, they forget, and when they wake up…" he smiled faintly, "there are no left prints .No story. No trail."
A moment of awe.
Then, Mela stood abruptly. "I need to get to Yamin," she said. "She'll know what to do... and I—yeah, I've got something to take care of."
"I've got work too," Z-12 added, already drifting back to his bubbling flasks, the scent of herbs thick in the air.
"Then let's go," Skyler said, pushing the door open with urgency.
Elsie trailed behind, her face shadowed, her heart heavy. Her brother was somewhere behind iron bars, maybe in pain, maybe losing hope. She blinked back the tears. Every step she took down that cobbled street echoed the same thought.
Will Yamin plead on Tony's behalf?