Ragnarök, Eternal Tragedy.
Chapter 56: being a sacrfice

Chapter 56: being a sacrfice

The prison tunnels were cold and damp, the air heavy with an eerie silence broken only by the soft drip of water somewhere far off. Then, the quiet was cut by the steady sound of boots on stone, each step slow and deliberate. A low whistle followed, casual but chilling, slicing through the stillness like a knife. It was a simple tune, but there was something about it that felt unnerving—like it was mocking the misery trapped in those walls.

Apollo leaned against the cold iron bars of his cell, instantly on edge. "Who’s there?" he whispered, barely audible. He stopped pacing, gripping the bars tightly, his sharp eyes scanning the dim corridor for any sign of movement.

Amari stayed quiet at first, sitting cross-legged in the corner of his cell, his head down like he was lost in thought. But as the whistle grew louder, closer, he looked up sharply, his heart picking up speed. This wasn’t the steady walk of a guard making their rounds or the heavy stomp of the king’s men. This was something different—someone who moved with the confidence of a hunter.

"It’s not a visit," Amari muttered grimly, standing slowly and moving toward the bars of his cell. "It’s something else... Someone else."

Before Apollo could reply, the shadow of a figure appeared at the end of the corridor. Tobias stepped into the faint torchlight, his hat tilted just enough to hide his eyes in shadow. He moved with lazy ease, a pipe clenched between his teeth, his whistling replaced by the soft thud of his boots. His presence seemed to fill the space like smoke—overwhelming and inescapable.

Tobias’s eyes drifted over the cells with little interest until they stopped on Amari. His lips curved into a faint smirk, his head tilting slightly as he studied the prisoner.

"Well, look at that," Tobias drawled, his voice tinged with amusement. "Amari. Didn’t think I’d find you here."

Amari’s grip tightened on the bars as he held Tobias’s gaze, his expression carefully blank. "Tobias," he said evenly, though there was a subtle edge to his voice. "What are you doing here?"

Tobias took the pipe from his mouth, blowing out a slow cloud of smoke before slipping it into his coat. He stopped right in front of Amari’s cell, leaning against the bars like he had all the time in the world. His sharp eyes flicked briefly to Apollo, sizing him up, before turning back to Amari.

"Same thing I’m always up to, kid," Tobias said with a chuckle. "Lookin’ for trouble—and guess what? I found it. Two boys locked up in a dump like this... Doesn’t sit right with me."

Apollo stepped closer to the bars, frowning suspiciously. "What do you want?" he asked, his voice low and wary. "And who even are you?"

Tobias tilted his head slightly in Apollo’s direction, his smirk widening. "Who I am ain’t your concern, kid. What I want, though—" He paused, letting his gaze slide back to Amari. "—well, that’s easy. I’m here to set you two free."

Apollo and Amari exchanged a surprised look, disbelief flickering across their faces. Tobias chuckled again, clearly enjoying the moment.

"Don’t thank me yet," he said, holding up a hand as if to stop any premature gratitude. "There’s a catch. I’ll unlock these cells, sure, but there’s one condition."

Amari’s expression darkened as he asked, "What condition?"

Tobias leaned in, his voice dropping low. "You come with me, Amari. No questions, no arguments. You walk out of here, and you do what I tell you. That’s the deal."

The silence that followed was heavy, Tobias’s words settling like a stone in the cold air. Apollo took a step back, looking uneasily between Tobias and Amari. He opened his mouth like he wanted to protest but stopped, unsure what to say.

Amari stared at Tobias, his jaw tight, weighing the offer carefully. He knew this wasn’t a simple deal. Tobias wasn’t someone to trust lightly, and wherever he planned to take Amari, safety wouldn’t be part of the equation.

Apollo stepped forward, gripping the bars of his cell as he broke the tense silence. "No," he said firmly, his eyes locked on Tobias. "You can’t just take him. If you’re letting us go, it’s both of us or neither."

Tobias chuckled quietly, shaking his head as he leaned against the bars of Amari’s cell. "Kid," he said, his tone full of smug amusement, "you’re not really in a position to make demands here. Let me remind you—I don’t have to free either of you." Straightening up, he fixed his sharp gaze on Apollo. "I could drag Amari out of here by force if I wanted to. Wouldn’t be the first time, and it sure won’t be the last."

Apollo’s knuckles whitened as he tightened his grip on the bars, his frustration clear. "You’re not taking him anywhere!" he shouted, his voice rising.

Amari, who had stayed quiet until now, stepped toward the bars. He raised a hand, his voice calm but firm. "Apollo," he said softly. "Don’t."

Apollo turned to him, his face a mix of anger and disbelief. "Amari, you do know what he’ll do with you right?"

"I know," Amari said, his eyes flicking to Tobias. "But I also know we’re not getting out of here unless we agree to his terms." He turned back to Apollo, his voice steady. "If we fight him, we lose. If we go along with it, we get a shot at freedom. Right now, that’s our only option."

Apollo hesitated, his jaw clenched as he searched for a counterargument. Eventually, he stepped back, his fists clenched at his sides. "Fine," he muttered, his tone dripping with defeat. "But if he tries anything—"

"He won’t," Amari cut him off, his voice filled with quiet determination.

Tobias smirked, clearly amused by the exchange. "Smart move, kid," he said, tipping his hat slightly toward Amari. "Now, let’s stop wasting time. We’ve got places to be."

Amari gave a small nod, his expression serious, before turning to Apollo one last time. "Stay close. And don’t do anything reckless."

With that, Tobias reached into his coat and pulled out a set of keys, the metal jingling softly. He unlocked Amari’s cell first, the heavy door groaning as it swung open. Tobias gestured for Amari to step out before moving on to Apollo’s cell, unlocking it with the same unhurried precision.

"Now," Tobias said, his voice calm but commanding, "both of you follow me. No noise, no questions. Just keep up, and I’ll get us out of here."

Amari and Apollo exchanged one last look before stepping out of their cells. The air between them was heavy with uncertainty, but one thing was clear—they were now tied to this mysterious man who offered freedom at a price.