Kael and the other children entered the guard post. A relief, however brief, lifted some of the weight off their shoulders. The room was bare, the floor covered in dust and dried blood. The walls were no cleaner. To the right stood a rough wooden workbench, scattered with papers. Beside it, an ebony cabinet stood tall, with a black metal lantern hanging from its handle, casting a dim light across the room.
At the far end, a steel door faced the entrance, barred with a small hatch at eye level. The colossus opened it, revealing a narrower room drowned in darkness. Kael understood instantly: this is where they'd sleep.
The two men scrutinized the children with cold, piercing stares. Those weren't human eyes, they were hooks. Kael felt as if invisible hands clung to their backs, strangling the last flickers of hope. A grunt, chains clattering, and the guards shoved them into the cell with a cacophony of metal.
Five pieces of hard bread and a leather water flask were thrown at their feet. The noise died instantly. The children stared at the meager provisions like caged animals.
Kael, his legs aching, slid down against the wall, collapsing slowly to the ground.
My head is spinning. My stomach hurts so bad. If I don't eat now, I'll die on the next march…
But he wasn't the only one thinking that. A quick glance told him that everyone, without exception, had their eyes locked on the food. The door slammed shut behind them, plunging the room into near-total darkness, broken only by a few thin slivers of light sneaking under the frame.
Subtle movements stirred in the shadows.
A breath, a shuffle. Then suddenly, fear exploded into instinct.
The children lunged at the food like wild beasts, driven by the terror of being robbed. Punches, bites, scratches, anything went for a single bite. What started as silent chaos turned into a low, animal growl.
If I stay put, I won't eat. But if I dive in, I might break something…
Thoughts spun through his mind like a storm, but always returned to the same point: eat.
Here, I've learned one thing: eat or be eaten. Time to choose if I want to survive like a lion… or like a scavenger.
Strangely, Kael stayed calm. He waited. Long. Very long. Each second tore at his throat, but he knew patience was his best shot.
And luck finally smiled on him.
A piece of bread flew in his direction, landing with a dull thud in front of him. With a swift, almost feline motion, he grabbed it and hid it behind his back. Saliva pooled in his mouth, but he fought the urge to devour his share. Hungry eyes still roamed everywhere. He had to vanish, to become invisible. Just a whisper in the dark.
No fighting. No injuries. Scavengers know how to survive.
As he was finally about to eat, he felt a presence behind him.
Sitting in the shadows, just a few feet away, was a boy with long hair, his eyes gleaming in the gloom. He seemed to have been watching for a while. His gaze… it wasn't cruel or empty. It was focused. Intelligent. Too intelligent.
The boy stepped forward silently, a smile on his face, his steps light, almost dancing.
He crouched in front of Kael and locked eyes with him. Kael's heart pounded.
Is he going to steal it from me? I should hit him first… But if the others hear a sound… No. No room for hesitation. If I want to get out of here alive, I have to strike first.
His muscles tensed.
But the boy calmly placed a hand on his shoulder, and chuckled softly.
— I suggest we share what you just picked up.
Kael raised an eyebrow, stunned. Then replied coldly:
— You want me to share what I caught? Seriously?
The boy remained silent, still smiling. He pointed behind Kael, then put a finger to his lips.
Kael understood instantly, it was the price for him to remain silence. He'd been seen. Caught in the act. He wasn't the only one who knew how to wait. Not the only scavenger.
But instead of getting angry, Kael smiled. Almost admiringly.
He's good. Too good to ignore.
Without a word, Kael broke the piece of bread in half. Under the boy's gaze, he offered the smaller half.
The boy took the piece without protest, then moved away, still wrapped in that strange serenity, as if none of this mattered. As if he shone in the dark.
He's either sick… or completely insane.
Kael devoured his share in silence. Then, lying on the icy floor, he felt his body sink into heavy sleep. A sleep ripped from his aching body. Deserved.