Jason Weiser

Yeah, he knew.

Binding her wrists, he still led her to the dungeon.

Starvation was both Donya's punishment and her execution method.

At least, that's what she was told.

Presumably, the people leaving bits of rations inside the bars of her window, which she had to race the rats to get each night, knew that was her punishment.

They knew Pedro better, though, and Doña survived for months.

Ren, though, was a mess.

Not only was his business in freefall without Doña managing things,

But he still couldn't believe that the best person that he had ever known had turned out to be a monster.

It was one night, knowing that she somehow remained living in the dungeon despite his punishment, like the twisted version of some old saint from a legend, that Ren grabbed a cord.

Her presence was torment.

But the dead, well, they remained forever in the past.

And so would Pedro.

Decay stung Ren's nostrils as he descended into the darkness.

The flames sputtered as he lit his lantern, revealing Pedro crouched on his knees in the middle of the cell.

The accusations are false, Dunya said.

I wish I could believe you, Ren said honestly.

He wanted nothing more.

He looked up to find a particularly strong beam as Pedro spoke.

But the young man's voice sounded different.