The Phoenix Before Doomsday
He pauses, his eyes boring into mine.
"But you, you're different, you're not afraid of pain, you're not afraid of death, you're not afraid of anything."
He leans back, his smile widening.
"So I'm going to try something different."
He gestures to one of his men, and the man steps forward, dragging someone with him.
Someone small.
Someone crying.
Someone I love.
---
Mira.
She's beaten, bruised, bleeding, her small body trembling, her eyes wide with terror. She's calling my name, she's begging for help, she's—