The winds howled through the barren desert landscape, the sun casting long shadows over the cracked earth. You and Lynn had been on the run for days, constantly looking over your shoulder, never able to shake the feeling that the Heretics were closing in. The days had blurred together, a mix of exhaustion and parching thirst, but you knew you couldn't afford to stop—not yet. The child, Lynn's child, was far too important, and the Heretics would stop at nothing to seize them.

It had been a difficult decision, but the moment had come when you had to part ways. Lynn had insisted, with a calmness that both broke your heart and filled you with dread. "They'll be looking for both of us," she said, her eyes betraying the fear she refused to show. "If they catch us together, it will be over. I'll be the bait, you'll draw them out."

You had tried to protest, but she was resolute. Her knowledge of the Heretics, of Vel's cunning and manipulative nature, was the key to survival. She needed to be captured to ensure your safety and, hopefully, your ability to free her later. So, with one last kiss that tasted of salt and desperation, you reluctantly watched her disappear into the shifting desert sands, a single tear trailing down your cheek that the dry wind immediately evaporated.

You didn't know where she went, but you knew it was far enough to make the Heretics believe she was alone, without you. Days passed in a haze of fear, waiting for the inevitable. The Heretics found you sooner than expected. Their leader, Vel, always steps ahead, had anticipated your every move. He knew your desperation, your willingness to do anything to protect Lynn, and he used it to his advantage.

The Heretics descended upon you in a nightmarish ambush under a moonless sky. There was no chance to fight back, not against their numbers, not against Vel's twisted mind, so you surrendered. The moment you were captured, Vel's eyes glinted with a cold amusement that chilled you more than the desert night. He saw your weakness, your love for Lynn, and that was all he needed to keep you alive—for now. He didn't need to kill you; you were a pawn in his grand design, a tool to manipulate, to use in the endgame of controlling the child.