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,

left, to a cell secured with

boss of CK,

made her skin crawl-a reluctance

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

snapped back to reality.

find him making the most of his confinement by exercising in a

be enjoying yourself,"

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 with Micah. They shared an unspoken understanding that came from a

body tensing up. Without turning, he knew it was her. But he could

without saying a word. She could tell just how strong Scott's feelings toward

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

old flame, it was only polite to give

"Old friend,

last, Scott 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

was her. She

old times, but the electric barrier was a cruel reminder of the distance

her characteristic smile. "Looks like I'm

from his nerves. "Karen, have you been

cracked,

been fine, thanks for

Thousands of thoughts choked in his throat,

two sat in silence for a