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.

was what Karen thrived on, and the Agency was anything but. "Mom, this

left, to a cell

cell, the former head boss of

but something about that cell made her skin crawl-a reluctance

and offered, "Mom,

to reality. "No, let's

him making the most of his confinement by exercising in a meticulously clean

enjoying

not been the second-in-command of GTO and had not been Belle's stand-in, he and Karen might have been good friends, like she was

turning, he knew it was her. But he could not bring himself to

a word. She could tell just how strong Scott's feelings toward Karen

care about that at all, and neither would she

flame, it was only

seat. "Old friend, long

his eyes wide with disbelief. Approaching the bars that separated them, his hands shook

was her. She was

times, but the electric barrier was a cruel reminder

maintained her characteristic smile. "Looks

go, the current vanishing from his nerves.

cracked,

nodded. "I've been

Thousands of

two sat in silence for a moment before Karen

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