Prince of The Ruined Kingdom

As I hurried out of the inn, the cold night air hit my face, but I barely felt it. My focus was solely on one thing—finding Abigail. The voice of the drone hovering above my head was clear, and inside it, Lilith's anxious tone continued to speak.

"Arche, you need to hurry! Abigail's signal flickered back before it completely vanished. We could lose her trail if we're slow," Lilith said, her voice tense through the drone.

I let out a low growl, quickening my pace. Every second felt like a weight on my chest, and I couldn't think of anything other than bringing her back. "I know, Lilith. I'm moving as fast as I can."

The drone spun briefly in the air, projecting a holographic map of Abigail's last signal trail. The path led to a narrow alley in Arcadia Point, the last place she had been seen.

"Ophelia here. I'm taking over now," Ophelia's voice suddenly replaced Lilith's. "Arche, Abigail's last signal was in this alley. It's small and isolated. They must be planning an escape from here."

I halted in front of the specified alley. It was dark, quiet, and looked completely ordinary. For a moment, panic surged in my chest. There were no signs of a struggle, no indications of anything unusual. Just another quiet alley in this city.

"This is the place?" I asked, scanning my surroundings with keen eyes. "There's nothing here."

"Yes, this is it," Ophelia replied, impatience creeping into her tone. "You have to trust the data, Arche. This is the most likely spot."

I looked around, trying to find any trace, but nothing seemed suspicious here. Taking a deep breath, I called out, "Neumann, show yourself."

As if responding instantly, Neumann's digital form materialized before me, a holographic girl with black hair and sharp, bright eyes. Her digital gaze locked onto me before shifting to scan the entire alley.

"Command received, Archemidas. I will conduct a thorough investigation and analysis," she said, starting to project light from her petite body, scanning every corner of the alley.

Lilith's voice suddenly came through the drone again. "What is that?!" she exclaimed, surprised. "Who is that girl, Arche?"

"I'll explain later, Lilith," I replied quickly, not wanting to be distracted. "Right now, let Neumann work."

Neumann moved around the alley, her light reflecting off the narrow walls. Moments stretched on like hours as I anxiously waited, until finally, Neumann broke the silence.

"I've found signs of a struggle," she reported decisively. "Activating hologram projection of the footage I've analyzed."

Suddenly, a full-sized visual of Abigail appeared before me, moving at incredible speed. In the hologram, she was fighting an enemy who appeared to be Sierra One. I could see the tension on her face as she unleashed quick attacks to try and defeat him. The hologram was so vivid that it felt like I was witnessing the battle unfold right in front of me.

Lilith gasped through the drone. "This... is insane. How can that digital girl do this?"

"Neumann isn't just any AI," I replied, my attention fixed on Abigail's every move in the recording. "She's more than that. I'll explain later, Lilith."

I watched as Abigail fought with all her strength, but ultimately, Sierra One managed to subdue her with a sedative. My muscles tensed as I saw him place Abigail's unconscious body into a vehicle that arrived shortly afterward. After that, Sierra One meticulously cleaned up the scene, leaving little to no evidence of the struggle that had occurred.

"They're very tidy," Lilith murmured. "They know how to cover their tracks."

Neumann turned to me. "Archemidas, Abigail's last trail leads to a vehicle leaving Arcadia Point. But they took measures to erase her signal afterward."

I bit my lower lip in frustration. "They know what they're doing. But we're not out of options, Neumann. We have to track where that vehicle went."

Neumann nodded firmly, her eyes glowing with digital light. "I will search for more information through all connected systems in the escape area. But I'll need time."

"I don't care how long it takes," I replied quickly. "We have no choice but to keep searching. Abigail must be out there."

Lilith spoke again, her voice softer this time. "Arche... I know you're really worried, but we need to stay calm. We'll find her, even if it takes some time."

I took a deep breath, trying to compose myself. "I know, Lilith. I just... I can't let anything bad happen to her."

"You're not alone in this," Lilith replied firmly. "We all care about Abigail, and we'll do whatever it takes to bring her back. Ophelia and I will continue to support you with every piece of data we have."

I nodded, even though they couldn't see me. "Thank you, Lilith. You both are amazing."

Before me, Neumann's holographic projection stood ready, watching me intently. "I will keep working to find further clues, Archemidas. Don't worry, we will find Abigail."

I gazed up at the dark night sky, thinking about how Abigail had fought with all her might and how she might now be in the hands of enemies stronger than we had anticipated. But I wouldn't give up. We couldn't let them win.

"We will find her," I whispered softly. "I swear, Abigail, I will save you."

I rushed toward the waiting vehicle. There was no time left for hesitation. We had to find Abigail, no matter what obstacles lay ahead.

***

The empty room was thick with the smell of dampness and dust. A dim yellow light flickered softly from a hanging bulb, enhancing the gloomy atmosphere that enveloped the space. Abigail sat in an old, worn-out chair, her body tightly bound by coarse ropes around her wrists and ankles. Her face was marred with cuts and bruises, yet she stared straight ahead with an eerie calmness, as if untouched by the horrors that had just occurred.

In front of her, Sierra One paced back and forth, frustration etched across his tall, athletic frame. His face was tense, anger visible in every line as he glared at Abigail, gripping a weapon in his right hand. In the corner of the room, Beta, his partner, perched on a wooden crate, observing Sierra One's every move while fiddling with his detection device linked to various sensors outside.

"You still haven't spoken, have you?" Sierra One leaned closer to Abigail, his eyes burning with hatred. "I've asked you repeatedly. What's your real name, you stupid girl? Who are your people? How many of them are there? And where is Prince Archemidas?!"

Abigail merely smiled faintly, her eyes filled with a mocking certainty. "If you already know the answers, why are you still asking?" she replied calmly, her tone almost challenging.

Sierra One growled, furious at her apparent indifference. He raised his fist and struck Abigail in the stomach again, causing her to gasp, yet she remained silent. Abigail's breath came in short gasps, but she didn't react in the way Sierra One expected.

"Enough!" Sierra One barked, his tone sharp and filled with frustration. "Stop playing games with me! I've given you a chance. If you keep silent, you'll lose more than just your freedom."

Beta glanced over but stayed quiet, busy with his detection device. He knew Sierra One often resorted to this kind of violence, and so far, no one had come close. However, he was also aware that their time was limited. The longer they remained here, the greater the risk of being discovered by those who might be searching for Abigail.

Sierra One took a deep breath, then coldly pulled out his gun from its holster at his waist. He pointed it at Abigail's leg, aiming for her knee. "I don't want to do this, but you're forcing my hand. You have a choice—talk now, or I'll shoot your leg. After that, you might lose the ability to walk for the rest of your life."

Abigail stared at the weapon without flinching. She looked at Sierra One with an unwavering, piercing gaze, as if pain were something that couldn't shake her. A thin smile returned to her lips. "You think that threat will make me talk? You're more foolish than I thought," she said coldly.

Sierra One's anger peaked. Without hesitation, he pulled the trigger.

Bang!

The sound of the gunshot echoed loudly in the silent room. Abigail screamed as the bullet pierced her leg, an excruciating pain radiating from the wound. Her body jolted, but the ropes kept her firmly in place. Her face paled, and she gasped for air. Despite the agony, she held her tongue.

Sierra One moved in closer, his expression cold and filled with rage. "Now, I'm going to ask again. What's your name, and what's your purpose? Where is Prince Archemidas? Answer now, or the next bullet will hurt even more."

Abigail was panting, sweat soaking her battered face, yet she remained silent. Only her occasional whimpers indicated the unbearable pain in her leg. However, despite her evident suffering, she refused to divulge any information.

"Damn it!" Sierra One kicked Abigail's chair angrily, nearly toppling it over. "Don't you realize your situation? You're not in a position to play games, girl!"

In the corner, Beta stood up and moved a little closer. "Sierra, calm down. This girl is important. You can't kill her. She's our bait to lure Archemidas out. Remember that."

Sierra One shot a sharp glare at Beta, his breathing heavy with anger. "I know she's important. But how can we lure Archemidas if this girl keeps silent like a rock? I've held her for hours, but she won't talk! Maybe we don't need her alive!"

Beta looked at Abigail, who now appeared weaker but still refused to speak, steadfast in her silence. "Don't be reckless, Sierra. We're not done with her yet. There are other ways." Beta approached Abigail, gazing at her with a calmer demeanor.

"You know," Beta said, his tone softer. "I know you're strong. I know you're resilient. But what I want to ask is, how long can you hold out? Do you think your friends will come to rescue you in time? Or are you sure they even know you're here?"

Abigail met Beta's gaze with determination, even though her body was clearly starting to weaken. "You can keep asking. But I won't give you anything. You're just pawns in a larger game. Nothing more than that."

Sierra One, increasingly enraged by Abigail's calmness, growled and punched the wall beside him. "You think this is a game? You'll see how serious this is when Archemidas shows up—and we'll make him watch you die."

Beta looked at Sierra One and took a deep breath, trying to ease the tension. "Enough, Sierra. We need to focus. Lure Archemidas; that's our main mission."

Sierra One huffed in frustration but lowered his weapon, stepping back while casting Abigail a look full of hatred.

In her chair, Abigail continued to gasp, fighting the pain in her leg. Yet in her eyes, there remained an unyielding resolve. No matter how much violence was inflicted upon her, she would not give them anything.

The abandoned room was cloaked in an eerie silence. Abigail sat tied to a chair, gasping for breath as she endured the excruciating pain in her leg. The gunshot wound throbbed fiercely, but she refused to show any sign of weakness. Her eyes were half-closed, staring at the floor in exhaustion. Sierra One stood a few meters away, pacing with a face full of hatred.

Beta, sitting in the corner, was preoccupied with a tracking device connected to satellites and sensors. His gaze occasionally flicked toward Abigail, but most of his attention remained on the small monitor in his hands. The dim light from the screen reflected his concentrated expression.

"So, how can we use her as bait?" Sierra One asked, eyeing Abigail. "We've kidnapped her, but we still haven't heard a peep from that stupid prince. Does he even know she's here?"

Beta glanced at Sierra One before turning back to his screen. "Archemidas must know. If not, why hasn't he shown up? He's just waiting for the right moment, or maybe he's looking for us. We just need to give him a little push. I have some ideas."

Sierra One smirked, raising an eyebrow. "What do you have, Beta? Spill it before I lose my patience with this girl."

Beta pressed a few buttons on his device, projecting a map of Arcadia Point and the area around the building they were in. "We can send a direct message. Record a short video of Abigail here, show how we've treated her. She doesn't even need to talk; the pain on her face will be enough. We can use that video to pressure Archemidas into coming to a location of our choosing."

Sierra One paused, weighing the idea. His gaze shifted to Abigail, still silent with her head bowed. "Interesting idea. But what if he doesn't come? Maybe the prince is too cowardly to take the risk."

"He will come," Beta replied confidently. "Archemidas may seem like a solitary, indifferent prince, but he's known for his unwavering loyalty to those close to him. If this Abigail is important, he'll act."

Sierra One snorted, stepping closer to Abigail and crouching in front of her. He roughly lifted her chin, looking into her eyes with a cold stare. "Well, you heard that, didn't you? Your friend will come for you… if he cares enough."

Abigail remained silent, merely glaring back at him with a mix of pain and hatred in her eyes. Tears brimmed in her eyes as she fought to hold back the sobs that threatened to escape. Sierra One grinned, pleased to see emotion finally surfacing on the girl's face. He stood up, readied his weapon again, and aimed it at Abigail's other leg.

"Maybe he'll hurry if he knows you won't be able to walk again," Sierra One said with a chilling tone.

Beta was still focused on his device when suddenly an alarm blared. He glanced at the screen quickly, his face tightening with tension. "Wait, Sierra! Something is approaching… someone!"

Sierra One frowned, lowering his weapon slightly. "What do you mean? Who's coming?"

Beta zoomed in on the screen and spoke rapidly, "Someone is moving at high speed. Coming toward us… This isn't a coincidence. They're coming for us."

Sierra One cursed, immediately shifting his gaze from Abigail to the window. But before he could react further, the sound of a roaring engine drew closer, followed by a loud crash as something slammed into the wall.

CRASH!

The wall of the building suddenly crumbled with a thunderous noise, debris flying through the air. In an instant, a massive black motorcycle burst through the wall, creating a large opening on the side of the building. Archemidas leaped off his bike with swift, elegant movements, his sharp eyes scanning the situation. Amidst the chaos of dust and debris, he charged toward Sierra One with lightning speed.

Sierra One was taken aback, struggling to lift his weapon, but it was too late. With incredible speed, Archemidas delivered a powerful kick directly to Sierra One's face.

THUD!

The brutal kick connected, sending Sierra One sprawling several meters back, crashing into the wall with a heavy thud. He fell to the floor, blood trickling from his nose, his expression a mix of shock and pain.

Archemidas stood tall in the now dust-filled room. His breath was steady, but his eyes burned with deep anger. He turned to Abigail, still tied to the chair, taking in her battered and bruised condition.

"Abigail…" Archemidas's voice was soft, filled with guilt and regret.

Abigail weakly lifted her head, looking at the prince who had just smashed through the wall to save her. Her eyes were still filled with pain, but a faint smile broke through. "You… are late, you introverted prince," her voice barely above a whisper.

Archemidas rushed over to Abigail, kneeling before her. "I'm sorry. I should have come sooner. I won't let them hurt you again."

Beta, still in the corner, quickly stood and grabbed his weapon, but Archemidas was too fast. Before Beta could fire, Archemidas flicked his wrist, throwing a small knife hidden at his waist, striking Beta's hand and knocking the weapon out of his grasp. Beta stared in shock, clutching his bleeding hand.

"You won't touch her again," Archemidas said coldly before turning his full attention back to Abigail.

Sierra One, still lying on the floor, tried to get up, but his body felt weak after the powerful kick from Archemidas. He glared at the prince while Archemidas swiftly cut the ropes binding Abigail.

Once freed, Abigail stumbled, but Archemidas quickly caught her. "I'm here. You're safe now," he whispered softly.

Abigail looked at Archemidas, her eyes brimming with tears. "You're really crazy, Archemidas… crashing through walls like that," she said weakly, a small smile tugging at her lips.

"I'm sorry," Archemidas replied earnestly, his gaze filled with determination.

***