Caged No More Novels & Stories

Maize growled at him, making him laugh again. “That I am, princess,” he said, standing up with a sigh. “And just to help prove that I mean what I say, let’s start our journey together with a bit of fun.” The cage was all metal, and had flat bars under them to prevent them from digging out. It also meant that, when the man connected an electrical cable to the cage, a powerful current ran through each and every one of them. Those that weren’t concious yet were awoken in the worst of ways.

At the blank notebook beside them. At the pen in my hand. The past is inked. The present, less so. The future—if I survive this—could be written in my own words. If I’m smart. If I’m vicious enough. If I’m willing to use this cage not just as a prison but as a war room. I flip my notebook open. On a fresh page, I write three words in big, angry letters: *NO MORE FINE PRINT.* Then, under it, smaller: *For me. For her. For whoever comes after.*

I guessed that either the room was soundproof or I was in some remote place. I looked down at the heavy black shackles wrapped around my feet. "They're heavy." Realizing I was completely imprisoned, I thought I might die. The faceless man who had kidnapped me had, in my mind, transformed into a cruel murderer. The cruel murderer became a terrifying organ trafficker, and the organ trafficker became a grotesque cannibal who devoured people. That image changed dozens of times before the locked door finally creaked open, and a black silhouette entered. The moment he stepped in, the world twisted into black and white. It warped. Sparks crackled around his face, distorting the space.

Then at Ra, the serpent, the stone goddess, Vorathen's living wall, the city, the witnesses, the family, the enemies, the old and the new. "No," Jack said. The First Successful Cage tilted his head. Jack lifted his marked arm and opened one door. Only one. Small. Human-sized. "Not command. Not release. Review." The First Successful Cage stared at the door. Behind it was not freedom. Not prison. A table. Katherine exhaled like she had been holding the entire tower upright with her lungs. The old goddess smiled. Priya whispered, "Proceeding." Haley, shaking, lifted her cracked phone again. "Welcome back to the worst livestream in history."

Elowen snapped. “I solve it by keeping you alive,” Corvin said. Elowen stepped closer, heat rising in his chest. “Alive where? In your rooms? In your sight? Or under your command?” Corvin’s jaw tightened. “Under my protection.” Elowen shook his head. “You dress it in softer words, but it is still a cage.” Corvin’s gaze did not waver. “A cage keeps predators out.” “And traps animals inside,” Elowen shot back.

Calisto replied, pausing as they halted by a cell encased in cement, its double-barred door fashioned from silver. No windows, no door—just a small food slot underneath. This was Fiona's cage, where she would spend the remainder of her years. "I know you're furious with Fiona, to the point of wanting her dead. But if there ever comes a time when you wish to end her suffering and set her free, let me be the one to do it," Calisto responded as they heard Fiona's pleas from inside—like a small dog trapped in a box with no way out. TO BE CONTINUED

The cage we'd built was breaking. "No," I whispered. "No, we can't—we can't fail now. We can't let her out. We can't—" "The prison is failing," the entity said. Excitement creeping into her voice. "You've held me for so long. Been so strong. But you're too faded now. Too weak. Too—too gone. You can't hold me anymore. Can't keep me trapped. Soon I'll be free. Soon I'll—" "NO!" Grace screamed. All three of us—me, Grace, James—we pulled tighter. Reinforced the cage. Used everything we had left. Every shred of awareness. Every fragment of self. Every—

Alpha Cage said bluntly as he steered Ezra away from the center of the camp and out of the outer grounds. “Exactly.. I was concerned about them” “You don’t want them sold?” Alpha Cage crossed his arms over his chest and leaned forward as he waited for a response. Ezra shook his head slowly. “Quite unfortunate” Cage's voice held no real emotion and he didn’t try to act as if he cared. Ezra felt his stomach twist. “I thought they could have a better living here at the camp and if possible…they could be employed” “They’re dependent. Useless when it comes to labour”

Not to one man in Cell 14. It trended in 2 hours. `#NoGhosts` *9. 6:30pm. Kano Max. Cell 14* New guards. New cameras. New lock. James sat in the corner. Guard: “No more mail. No more visitors. No more paper.” James: “For how long?” Guard: “16 years.” He looked at the scratched `DAY 5488`. Then at the new camera in the corner. Red light on. *10. 9:00pm. Rooftop*

She had earned the right to watch. Behind her, the keep was quiet. The fighting was over. The surviving Shadowfang wolves had been rounded up, chained, and corralled in the outer courtyard. Kaelen's wolves stood guard, their eyes cold, their patience thin. There would be judgment later. There would be punishment. But for now, there was only this: the fire, the smoke, and the silence. Elara's hands gripped the stone ledge. Her wrists were bandaged where the silver cuffs had burned her. Her ribs ached. Her throat was raw from the few words she had managed to force out. Every part of her hurt.