The Million-Dollar Heart

In Rivenwood, in the depths of an off-the-grid prison unlike any other, the inmates were not your garden-variety criminals. Not even the hardened murderers found solace within these walls.

At present, this prison housed a mere trio of prisoners.

Flynn, Scott, and Fiona Ellington.

Fiona, though her body was a patchwork of decay, possessed sensory faculties that rivaled a healthy man in his prime. However, this heightened perception meant she also endured agonies far beyond the ker of ordinary humans.

Flynn, too, lived each day in excruciating pain, a modern-day Prometheus, his vitals ravaged daily, only to regenerate each dawn anew. This was Vivienne's brand of retribution.

Scott, in contrast, seemed almost content. Free from the physical torment, his punishment was a Sisyphean task of endless paperwork. He accepted his fate with a disarming calmness, even pointing out errors for correction by his wardens from the Vanguard Agency.

Many said Scott was the quietest of the three.

Vivienne and Karen arrived to find Soren and Anna waiting at the gate.

"Ms. Vivienne, Ms. Karen," Anna greeted as she adorned their wrists with security bands.

Back then, Vivienne was Percival's wife, and Percival was the deputy. Thus, she had never needed such measures before, but times had changed.

Soren collected all their communication devices, casting curious glances at Karen. She gave him a playful warning, "Hotshot, any more staring, and you'll be crossing a line."

"My apologies, Captain," Soren blurted a tad too quickly.

His curiosity stemmed from wondering why Percival respected Karen so much to call her master.

"Don't call me Captain; I have no plans of returning to the Vanguard Agency," Karen said with a smirk before stepping through the threshold.

all too well Karen's discomfort with the Agency's rigid structure and protocol. Freedom was what Karen thrived on, and the Agency was anything but. "Mom, this way," Vivienne gestured toward

were drawn to the left, to a

former head boss of

but something about that cell made her skin crawl-a reluctance mingled with an unavoidable

and offered, "Mom, do you

back to reality. "No, let's

the most

seem to be enjoying yourself," Karen remarked

not been Belle's stand-in, he and Karen might have

it was her. But he could not

word. She could tell just how strong Scott's feelings toward Karen were, or he would not

that

considered Karen's old flame, it was only

took a seat. "Old friend, long time no

wide with disbelief. Approaching the bars that separated them, his hands shook as currents zapped from the metal. It hurt, but he did not let

her. She

as if to touch her face like old times, but the electric barrier was a cruel

her characteristic smile. "Looks like I'm

let go, the current vanishing from his nerves. "Karen, have you been well all

cracked, betraying his

nodded. "I've been fine,

sadly, words failing him. Thousands of

a moment before Karen spoke