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.

Karen's discomfort with the Agency's rigid structure and protocol. Freedom was what Karen thrived on, and the Agency was anything but. "Mom,

left, to a cell

cell, the former head boss of CK, known as

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

sensed Karen's unease and offered, "Mom, do you want to

snapped back to reality. "No, let's

Scott's cell to find him making the most of his

to be enjoying

GTO and had not been Belle's stand-in, he and Karen might have been good friends, like she was with Micah. They shared an unspoken understanding that came from a place

tensing up. Without turning, he knew it was her. But he could not bring

word. She could tell just how strong Scott's feelings toward Karen were, or

Karen probably did not care about that at all, and neither would she

flame,

took a seat. "Old friend, long

turned, his eyes 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.

touch her face like old times, but the electric barrier was a cruel reminder of the distance between them. His hand lingered

smile. "Looks like I'm doing all

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

voice cracked,

nodded. "I've been fine, thanks

chuckled sadly, words failing him. Thousands of thoughts choked in

a moment before Karen