Darkness enveloped the trio, the air heavy with despair. Yamari sat slumped against the cold, damp wall of the basement, her head bowed. Benjamin leaned beside her, his golden energy dimmed to a faint flicker. Karma paced back and forth, his usual confidence replaced by an air of defeat.

The room was silent save for the occasional drip of water from the ceiling. Chains clinked faintly as Yamari shifted her wrists, bound by enchanted cuffs that rendered her powerless. Her stomach wound throbbed, and every movement sent waves of agony through her body.

"I'm sorry," she whispered, her voice barely audible.

Benjamin stirred, turning his tired gaze toward her. "For what?"

"For dragging you into this. For... thinking I could do something meaningful," Yamari said, tears welling up in her eyes. "It's all been a lie. My whole life, my family, everything."

Karma stopped pacing and looked at her, his expression softening. "You're not the only one who's lost, Yamari," he said quietly. "We're all here because of the choices we made. This isn't just your burden."

Benjamin sighed and slid down to sit beside her. "He's right. None of us knew what we were walking into. But blaming yourself won't change anything."

Yamari shook her head, tears streaming down her face. "What's the point anymore? We're trapped. We're powerless. Maveen was right—we're nothing compared to her."

Karma clenched his fists, his knuckles white. "She's not right. She's just... stronger. For now."

A brittle laugh escaped Benjamin. "I hate to break it to you, but we've hit rock bottom. Unless one of you has a miracle hidden somewhere, I don't see us getting out of here."

The trio fell silent again, the weight of their circumstances pressing down on them. Minutes stretched into hours, or so it seemed, the passage of time meaningless in the suffocating darkness.

Eventually, the sound of footsteps echoed from above, sharp and deliberate. The trio tensed, their eyes flicking toward the heavy iron door at the top of the stairs.

The door creaked open, and Maveen descended the steps, her glowing rabbit-like ears casting an eerie light around her. She stopped at the bottom, her gaze sweeping over them with a mix of disdain and satisfaction.

"Still sulking, I see," she said, her voice cold. "How very royal of you—sitting and waiting for someone to rescue you."

Yamari lifted her head, her tear-streaked face a mask of pain and exhaustion. "What do you want from us?" she asked weakly.

Maveen smirked. "What I've always wanted—to see you broken. To watch you realize that your precious royal bloodline means nothing here."

"We get it," Benjamin snapped, his voice hoarse. "You win. We're broken. Is that what you wanted to hear?"

Maveen's smirk faltered, and a flicker of something—doubt, perhaps—crossed her face. She stepped closer, her gaze locking onto Yamari.

"You," she said, her voice softening slightly. "You've always been the strong one. Always trying to prove something."

Yamari met her gaze, her eyes hollow. "And look where it got me."

For a moment, Maveen seemed to hesitate. Her glowing ears twitched, and her expression grew distant. Then, without a word, she turned and ascended the stairs, leaving them in darkness once more.

When the door slammed shut, Yamari let out a shaky breath. "I don't think she's going to kill us," she said, her voice trembling.

Karma scoffed. "Not yet, anyway."

Benjamin shook his head. "If we're still alive, there's a reason. We just have to figure out what it is."

Yamari closed her eyes, tears slipping down her cheeks. "I don't want to fight anymore. I just... I want to go home."

A heavy silence fell over them again, the trio united in their despair. And yet, in the back of their minds something filled their head, revenge, justice, vengeance , freedom, they wanted to be free again and rage filled their heads.