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.

what Karen thrived on, and the Agency

the left,

boss of CK, known as White Tiger,"

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

unease and offered, "Mom, do you want

reality.

the most of his confinement by exercising in a meticulously clean

enjoying yourself," Karen remarked

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

was her. But he

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

not care about that at all, and neither would she

Scott could be considered Karen's old flame, it was only polite to give them

a seat. "Old friend, long time no

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

was her. She

welled up, reaching out as if to touch her face like old times, but the electric barrier was

"Looks like I'm doing all

let go, the current vanishing from his nerves. "Karen,

cracked, betraying

nodded. "I've been fine, thanks

Thousands of thoughts choked in his throat,

two sat in silence for a moment before Karen spoke