Catherine stood at the entrance of the underground chamber, taking in the full view of the room.
The air was thick with the stench of blood and sweat. Several men were tied to wooden chairs, their heads hanging low, some barely conscious. The floor beneath them was stained dark red.
Catherine's eyes moved across the room before finally settling on her brother.
James stood in the middle of it all.
His upper body was bare, revealing the scars that covered his torso... old and new. Fresh blood was smeared across his chest, arms, and hands. His breathing was heavy and uneven, and his eyes held a wild, distant look, as if he was no longer fully present in reality.
He looked like a man who had been consumed by his own darkness for far too long.
Catherine watched him quietly for a few seconds. There was no shock on her last... only a deep, tired understanding. She had seen him like this before, but every time it felt worse than the last.
