Biana

Biana cursed as she lay in the corner of the cave, shifting uncomfortably and struggling to find a good position to sleep. But no matter where she lay or twist her body, rocks always seemed to find a way into her skin. 

Tears had stained her cheeks, and her eyes were probably bloodshot by all her crying, but that didn't matter. It wasn't like she'd be seeing anyone anytime soon. No one knew she was there. No one. Except Sophie. And Sophie was the one who'd put her there. 

"I want to go home," she croaked in a whisper. Biana pursed her lips to contain another round of sobbing, and her eyes glistened with tears, but none fell. She'd cried her eyes dry, to the point where even blinking hurt. 

Her heart ached, and guilt had swallowed her entire being. She knew it was dangerous, but she couldn't help it. Sophie was on the loose, because Biana had failed to stop her. She'd had the perfect chance. If only she'd been quicker. Stronger, too. But no. All that training and experience meant nothing if she couldn't even escape a small room with only one guard. 

And now, all the Lost Cities was doomed. Sophie had been the Black Swan's best chance at stopping the Neverseen, but now, they were doomed. The guilt ate at her, slowly chipping away at her heart until there would be nothing but a hole.

Biana winced as her back pressed into a small, sharp rock and a cool liquid could be felt trickling down her back. Blood, maybe. 

Biana bit her tongue, trying to distract from the pain, but she stopped as an all to familiar voice sounded in the distance. They were calling her name. 

"Dex?" Biana asked, though not loud enough to be heard. 

"Biana!" Dex's desperate voice called, and this time, Biana flinched, attempting to scoot closer to the stalagmites. The blood on her back changed direction and instead of sideways, fell down and traced her spine. 

"Dex!" Biana called, but she wasn't loud enough. Her voice was too scratchy and dry to project her voice enough, but she could try. 

The footsteps neared her, but quickly thundered away and in a different direction. No. He was leaving. He couldn't hear her.

"Dex!" she strained, and could almost feel her vocal chords vibrating, but she tried again. Again and again until the footsteps stopped. Then came back and in her direction.

"DEX! DEX! DEX! Please," she cried, and the footsteps got closer and closer until they were right in front of her natural prison. And then... right past. 

"Dex!" Biana called again, and Dex turned around and went back to her cell. 

"Oh," he said, breathless. "There you are." 

Dex collapsed to his knees, breathing hard to catch his breath while Biana watched, her own breath caught in relief. Dex was there. He'd come back for her. He hadn't forgotten. 

"Dex," Biana choked back a sob, "you came back." 

Dex gave a tired chuckle, nodding as best he could while laying fatigued. 

"Of course I did," he said, flashing a weary, dimpled smile. Biana returned it with one of her own, but she knew he could see the pain behind it from his expression. "I wasn't going to leave one of my friends behind like that." 

"I'm glad you came back," she said. Dex grunted as he stood up, his legs shaking from the strain. But he didn't fall again, instead standing taller, as if proving his body his will is stronger. 

"I'm going to get you out of here," he promised, and Biana nodded. Tears would've been pooling in her eyes at this point, if she hadn't cried her eyes dry. 

"Stand back," he said, backing away from the jagged rocks that acted as bars. Biana, however, didn't budge from her position beside the stalagmites. 

"I've tried breaking past them," she told him. "They didn't budge. You shouldn't waste your energy." Dex sighed. 

"You're sure?" 

"I'm sure," Biana said, and Dex seated himself beside her.

"Then I'm out of tricks, but don't worry. I will get you out of here." 

Biana opened her mouth to speak when the sound of multiple feet thundering towards them interrupted. 

"Get back," Dex warned. 

"They're not our friends?" Biana asked, and Dex shook his head. 

"The council took Marella, Stina, and the twins to get Linh to Elwin. They shouldn't be back yet. It's definitely the Neverseen." 

"You're sure?" 

Dex looked at her with narrowed eyes and a locked jaw.

"I'm sure," he promised, and Biana was actually scared of the way his eyes sparkled with determination. He reached for her hand through the stalagmites and pressed something small into her palm.

"I don't know what it does, but I'll try and stall. Just stay back and hope they don't remember putting you in this cell. Otherwise, they might relocate you and we won't be able to find you again." 

Biana nodded, not ready to tell him they didn't know she was there. Only Sophie-- Dex's best friend. And his best friend... was evil. 

Biana obeyed Dex's instructions, backing into the darkest corner in the cave and mustering all her strength to go invisible. Her stomach cramped at the strain in her power, and she ached all over, falling to the ground in pain. Luckily, the thump! wasn't audible as the Neverseen members slowed to a stop in front of Dex. 

Biana held to her invisible form as long as she could, the small object clenched in her shaking fists. She needed to squeeze hard to remind herself it was there, and to keep her awake long enough to see what happened. 

But Biana was growing dizzy. The fatigue was finally getting to her, and despite Biana's will, her body was shutting down. And with it, her will began to fade at the realization that she might never escape. 

The last thing she saw before blacking out were Dex's fearful eyes masked by strength and bravery. And she watched as the three cloaked figures dragged Dex away, muttering incoherent sentences. 

Though, Biana did catch one word: Moonlark.