The doorknob clicks, and the door swings open with a creak. The guard enters the room, immediately proceeding to the desk. He settles on his seat, his gaze fixated on the paperwork that fills his view. He then flips through the sheets, arranging them neatly.

     Amidst the guard's concentration, he hears the door creaking as it swings back to close. Though a familiar sound, he dismisses it, shrugging it off as he flips through the paperwork. However, an intense stare pierces the guard, unsettling him. His eyebrows furrow, sensing an impending danger that raises every hair on his body.

     Slowly, the guard's eyes dart to the left. He notices the closed doorway, and beside it stands a tall, bearded man with a scowling expression. Gasping, the guard instinctively stands up and steps back, fear overpowering him, rendering his legs motionless. He trembles as he tilts his head to meet the towering man's gaze.

     The man is none other than Cal, glaring through the guard's veins. Cal swiftly charges towards the guard, lifting off the ground and delivering a powerful kick with his right heel aimed at the guard's face. Cal's kick connects with precision, knocking the guard unconscious before landing back down silently. The guard's vision fades to white, succumbing to darkness. He collapses, falling near the chair.

     With adrenaline hastening through him, Cal's breath quickens, and he swiftly moves towards the door, securing the lock. He then returns to the desk, glancing at the unconscious guard on the floor before turning to the keys hanging on the shelves. He furrows his brows and steps forward.

"Prison chamber two. Prison chamber two," Cal read aloud as he hurryingly grabbed each key, carefully inspecting the labels written above them. Cal's eyes widened as he peered at the four silver keys neatly arranged beneath the tags. "Cell one. No. Cell two. Cell three. Cell four."

     With a swift hand, Cal snatched the three keys off their hook. He immediately concealed them in the right pocket of his trousers, hiding the valuable items. As he tucked the keys away, his gaze landed on the unconscious guard sprawled on the floor. The door swung open, and Cal stepped out of the room. With a gentle push, he closed the doorway behind him, exhaling a sigh of relief.

     Now clad in the unconscious guard's uniform, Cal quickly strips off the young man's clothes, donning them himself to blend into the establishment. Cal now has a black uniform adorned with a white strap crossing his torso, complemented by smoky grey pants. Completing his disguise, Cal places a dark shako cap with a wide brim and a striking red feather atop his head.

     Cal began strutting down the hallway, his disguise fooling those around him. Three guards passed by, offering slight nods of respect as they acknowledged his presence. Cal reciprocated with an insincere smile, his lips hiding the racing thoughts beneath. With a furrowed brow, he quickened his pace.

In the meantime, Nelson and Rowan began a conversation, their voices echoing through their dirty cells.

"So, uh, what was that guy's intention anyway? Why is he here in prison?" Rowan asked, slightly curious.

"The guy? Cal?" Nelson clarified, mentioning Cal's name.

"Yeah," Rowan glanced around, the dim light casting shadows on his face.

"He's here with me because, around two decades ago, we assassinated the Podeshire family," Nelson said.

"The Defenders of Asbranne?" Rowan raised an eyebrow, furrowing the other one.

"Yes," Nelson confirmed. He then ventured. "But there is one survivor that Cal failed to kill."

"The Remaining Podeshire, they say?" Rowan guessed.

"Exactly. Oliver," Nelson pointed out. "Cal has a deep hatred towards that man."

"Huh, Oliver," Rowan murmured. "I still remember that fool's name," he scoffed, rolling his eyes. "I genuinely despise that Oliver guy as well."

"Eh? Why, though?" Nelson's curiosity piqued, his brows furrowing.

"Remember, that guy is a Podeshire. And Podeshires came between a man and a female kean. And we know that keans are bloodsucking creatures," Rowan explained.

"Oh," Nelson replied, his gaze dropping as he absorbed the information.

"Not to mention, that guy preaches about God and supports modesty," Rowan added, a mischievous grin spreading across his face. "But! Boy! Don't I want to see those women more!?" he burst into maniacal laughter.

Nelson bit his lips in disgust. "...You're disgusting," he mumbled.

Once Rowan's laughter faded, his voice turned bitter again. "Hey, how can we be sure Cal will help us?" Rowan clenched the iron bars tightly. "We need to find a way to escape!"

"Stay out of it," Nelson said firmly. "I'm sure he's working on it."

"What if he abandoned us already??" Rowan shook the iron bars.

Unexpectedly, Joel rose from the ground and placed one firm finger on his mask's lips. "Shh." Suddenly, Joel leapt into the air, grabbing onto the vent in the ceiling.

"What? You had the ability to do that all along, and yet you waited for years to even try!?" Rowan ranted at Joel.

Nelson hurriedly interjected, his voice barely above a whisper. "Stop! Someone's coming!"

"Get down!" Rowan told Joel.

Quickly, Joel released his grip on the ceiling vent and landed back on the ground.

     The sound of footsteps grows louder from behind the wooden door. Shadows cast by an approaching figure block the slivers of light that seep in from under the doorway. Then, the doorknob twists, and with a loud creak, the door swings open.

     Standing in the doorway is Cal. He quickly enters the prison chamber and shuts the door behind him. He then retrieves three silver keys from his pockets, their metallic surfaces glistening like a magical wand in the dimly lit darkness.

"I knew it! You're coming back for us!" Nelson grinned.

     Later, after Cal had freed the men from their confinements, Cal, Nelson, Rowan, Joel, and four other male prisoners gathered inside Cal's cell. Cal removed his tall shako cap and dropped it to the floor. With a soaring leap, he ascended into the vent hole in the ceiling, disappearing into the ventilation shaft.

Cal paused, poking his head out of the vent hole and looking down at the others. "Are you all coming?"

     Nelson looked around the prison chamber, his eyes scanning for a solution. His gaze settled on a wooden chair nearby. He hurriedly grabbed the seat and brought it inside the cell, positioning it directly beneath the vent hole.

"Cal, we're old," Nelson groaned, closing his eyes halfway through.

"I'll pull you all up," Cal said, tightening his lips. "Now, quick. Get over here."

     Nelson crouched, gathering his strength. He then jumped and propelled himself upward, stretching his arms. His hands grasped Cal's palms, and with Cal's assistance, Nelson hoisted himself up and over the edge of the vent.

     One by one, the others followed suit, crawling through the narrow opening with Cal's help. His arms strained under the weight as he pulled each person up. Eventually, only Rowan remained in Cal's grasp.

"You're quite heavy," Cal remarked, exerting effort to lift Rowan toward the vent.

"I'm a big guy, that's for sure," Rowan replied with a hint of pride. "But it's all muscle, not fat."

"Just climb over," Cal ordered.

As Rowan prepared to climb, the faint, muffled sound of two pairs of footsteps echoed ominously from behind the closed wooden door. Rowan's ears perked up, and he gasped, quickly alerting the others. "I hear footsteps..." His eyes widened.

"Hurry," Cal urged, his grip on Rowan's arms tightening.

"You won't leave me here, will you?" Rowan asked.

"I won't. Unless you fall," Cal grunted.

     Rowan wriggled through the vent, slipping his feet into the narrow shaft. With adrenaline fueling his movements, he swiftly crawled, trailing after Cal and the rest of the group. His heart pounded so forcefully that he could feel it on the verge of bursting from his chest.

     Meanwhile, the wooden door creaked open, and two guards entered the prison chamber. Their eyes scanned the empty room, and they instantly realized the cells held no prisoners. Shock bit their veins, causing their pupils to contract as they exchanged wide-eyed glances.

"Prisoners escaped! I repeat! Prisoners have escaped!"

     Meanwhile, Cal struggles through the tight ventilation, pushing his way forward until he reaches a vent hole blocking his path. With a forceful kick, he dislodges the frame, sending it flying away. He swiftly squeezes out of the shaft, feeling the cool breeze of the night caress his skin. Leaning against the wall, he waits for the others to emerge from the broken vent hole.

     Once Nelson, Rowan, Joel, and the four other prisoners squeeze through the vent, Cal glances at them and nods. Quietly, everyone hastens away in unison, heading in a single direction towards the forest. Their footsteps quicken as they sprint into the distance, gradually fading into the darkness.

     The moon sheds its white glow, resembling the winter snow on this chilling night. The prison stands still and silent until the news of the breach spreads among the employees. Panic ensues as voices erupt in yelling and shouting, accompanied by the barks and howls of the dogs. The tranquil hour transforms into a nightmarish chaos as the most dangerous criminals of Asbranne escape from their rightful place.