After a day or so of trying to get out, I wanted to just collapse. I'm exhausted but I can't rest. I have a mission. Mission before self.

I refused to give up until finally I realized that even if I did manage to escape, I didn't have the energy to run. Much less to fight if needed.

That's why I took a nice long sleep.

When I woke up, Lloyd was there, and I had some food in my cell. I eyed it before pushing it away.

"You're going to get yourself sick, Vi," he warns with concern evident in his tone. I didn't reply. He sighed. "Why? Why do you keep pushing me away?"

"Oh, that's rich coming from you," I spat, looking him dead in the eye. Lloyd flinched a bit. "Don't even. Don't even try to make up for what you did. Don't act like you don't know that you did this."

"I didn't do anything! Mom dragged me away, she said you would come but you never did!"

I glared. "Practice any knots lately?"

Immediately the blood drained from his face. Lloyd had finally figured out what had happened, and I could tell he didn't want to believe he had sealed my fate.

But what does it matter, really? The only way to get stronger is to rely on yourself. Everyone else just lets you down.

I mentally smiled as my plan seemed to go in the right direction.

Run.