Mile woke up in a cold sweat. The chains were still there. He remembered the elf Silvar, and what he had told him about getting rid of the darkness inside of him. But now there was no escaping.

There were footsteps approaching his cell, and he couldn't help but feel a sense of dread. The door creaked open, revealing a guard.

"You're needed," the guard growled, not bothering to look at him as he unchained Mile. "Hurry up."

The guard roughly forced Mile through the dark halls, which were filled with the cries and moans of other prisoners. They finally reached a large chamber, lit by flickering torches. At the center of the room stood a throne, and on it sat a figure shrouded in shadows.

"You have been chosen," the figure said in a smooth, sinister voice. "You will be my weapon against the light."

"I will not fight against the light," Mile declared.

"Do not speak," they commanded, and Mile could feel their gaze piercing through him. "You will obey me, and you will do as I say. If you refuse, you will suffer the fate of all those who have dared to defy me." The figure beckoned to a guard, who presented Mile with a set of armor and a sword. "You will wear this, and you will wield this. You will become my champion, and together we will bring darkness back to this world." He paused, and watched as the guard forced the armor onto Mile. When they were finished, he continued. "Now, kneel before me, and swear your allegiance."

"I will not kneel," Mile said, his voice shaking with anger and determination. "You may have taken my body, but you will never have my soul."

"Foolish boy!" the figure growled. "You do not understand the power you are dealing with! You are nothing but a puppet, a pawn in my game! But if you insist on defying me... then so be it." With a wave of their hand, the guards dragged Mile away, back to his cell. As they left, Mile could hear the figure's cold, mocking laughter echoing through the chamber. They chained him up again, and told him he would receive another visitor soon enough.

It was not soon enough.

Mile could feel himself growing weaker with each passing moment. What would become of him? Would he be forced to serve this dark master, or would there be someone else who could help him escape this nightmare? He closed his eyes, trying to ignore the cold metal of the chains digging into his skin.

"When will this end?" he said to himself, his voice barely a whisper. Then he thought of Mei, and the promise they had made to each other. "No matter what," she had said. "No matter what it takes."

"No matter what it takes," he repeated faintly to himself.

Finally the visitor they spoke of came. Another guard led a young woman into the cell. She looked familiar, but he couldn't quite place her at first. Then, with a start, he realized who she was. It was Mei. His Mei. The one person who could save him.

"Mei!" he cried out, his voice hoarse with relief and hope. "You came!"

"Of course I came," she said, her voice trembling. "I promised I'd never leave your side, no matter what." She reached out to him, her hand shaking as it touched his arm through the bars. "We'll find a way out of here, Mile. I swear it."

Mile smiled weakly at her, grateful for her presence but knowing they had to hurry. He looked around, searching for anything they could use to escape. The cell was bare, save for a straw mat and a bucket in the corner. There was no way out, no way to fight back against the dark master who held them captive.

"I tried," he said, looking down at the chains that bound him. "I tried to resist, but they're too strong. I can't break free."

"Then we'll have to find another way," Mei replied, determination burning in her eyes. "There has to be something we can use, some way to escape from here." She searched the cell once more, her gaze darting from one corner to another. "We just need to find it."

There were footsteps, and Mile paled with fear. "Mei, you have to get out of here!" he gasped.

"No! I'm not leaving you!" she cried, her voice shaking. She looked around frantically, trying to think of something, anything they could do. But there was nothing. The footsteps grew closer, and she knew it was only a matter of time before they were discovered. "Mile, I'm sorry," she whispered, tears streaming down her face. "I wish I could have saved you."

"Don't say that," he choked out, his voice raw with emotion. "You're the strongest person I know. You can do this." But even as he said the words, he knew the truth. They were both trapped, and there was no escape.

"I love you, Mile," Mei said softly, squeezing his hand through the bars one last time before the guard dragged her away, back to her cell. Her voice drifted back to him, distant and heartbroken. "I'll find a way to get us out of here. I promise."

"I love you too," Mile whispered, his voice barely audible over the sound of the closing door. "No matter what happens, I'll be waiting for you." He closed his eyes, trying to ignore the pain in his chest as he fought against the darkness that threatened to consume him. He knew he had to keep fighting, for Mei's sake. Somehow, he had to find a way out of this nightmare.

Then he heard a voice, soft and gentle, calling his name. "Mile?" it said. "Mile, are you there?" It was Mei. She sounded so far away, but he could feel her presence somehow. "Mile, listen to me," she said. "I think I've found a way. A way for us to escape." His heart leapt in his chest at her words, but he knew they were in grave danger. There was no time to waste. "Mile, listen carefully," she continued. "I need you to do exactly as I say."

"I'm listening," he called back. "What is it?"

"First, you need to focus," she said. "Clear your mind and concentrate on the chains that bind you. Visualize them melting away, becoming nothing more than mist." As she spoke, he closed his eyes and tried to do as she said, summoning every ounce of his strength and willpower. He could feel the chains begin to loosen, the metal growing warm against his skin. "That's it," she encouraged. "Keep going."

He continued to focus, pushing harder against the magic that bound him. The chains grew hotter, and he could feel them beginning to melt away. "Almost there," she whispered. "Just a little bit more." With one final surge of energy, the last of the chains gave way, clattering to the floor in a heap. He felt free, unburdened. "Now, get out of there," she urged. "We have to hurry."

He jumped up and ran toward the door, and was surprised to find that it was unlocked. Without hesitation, he pushed it open and stepped into the hallway. It was dark and eerily quiet, but he could see Mei standing at the end of the hall, beckoning him forward. "Come on," she whispered. "We have to go now."

He nodded, took her hand, and followed her. They hurried down the hallway, around corners and through doorways. The further they went, the denser the air felt. The evil magic was closing in on him, he could feel it.

It was overpowering him.

"Just a little further," Mei said. Suddenly they entered a very dark room, so dark, in fact, that Mile couldn't even see Mei's face.

But something was wrong.

"Here we are," she said. But her voice had changed. It was no longer Mei's voice. It was the voice of the warden. "Ah, Mile. You've fallen for my little trap."

"No, no, you're lying!" he cried, his voice trembled. "Give me Mei back!"

"That was never Mei," he said, cackling lowly. "That was just an illusion. Now, it's time for you to join her. Permanently."

"Join her where? What did you do to her?!" Mile shouted, enraged that he anything would happen to Mei.

"Why, I did nothing at all," the warden said, chuckling darkly. "She is right where you left her. Alone." With that, the warden disappeared, leaving Mile in the pitch black darkness. He could feel the evil magic pressing in on him, trying to crush his soul. He had to find Mei, had to save her. He began to feel his way through the darkness, his hands brushing against the cold, damp stone walls.

He heard weeping echoing through the damp hall, and as he got closer, it sounded like a young boy. "Hello?" he called out, trying to stay calm. "Why are you crying?"

"They're hurting me," the young voice sobbed. "Please, help me."

"Why are they hurting you?" Mile asked, his heart racing. "Where are you?"