An unspoken agreement to be silent followed Miraye's lingering question. They each spared wary glances toward the dungeon entrance, straining their ears through the silence, and dreading the prospect of oncoming footsteps. Tic had indeed felt it, the shaking, and feared Larkin's return; it was a relief to see him leave... but was it? He would no longer have to endure the captivating gaze, and yet, he felt as bland as if he was still under its lure. No, he didn't need to satisfy the orange-eyed man any longer; no, he didn't need to give in... but those eyes! To be under such control felt... no! He wouldn't let himself be dragged down into captivity so easily, no; he couldn't, and wouldn't. Firmly discarding the irksome thoughts, he made up his mind.

After a reassuring moment of silence passed, Tic lifted his chin, opening his violet eyes through the glaring white veil of day. Miraye was turned away from him, still cautiously listening for a sound. He eyed the back of her head for a moment, allowing the silence to embrace them with assurance. He parted his lips and spoke, his voice lacking some of its usual hesitance. "Miraye," he whispered.

She turned to him, and immediately Tic noticed her eyes; they were a different color from before. He stared as the eyes seemed to fade back into their original state; a clear brown. He paused for a moment, slightly taken aback by the abnormity of such a change. The girl returned his gaze, waiting for him to speak.

His eyes darted to the doorway again, and his breathing hastened. "We've got to get out of here," he whispered to her, praying his words didn't carry.

"What?" she asked, eyeing him intently.

He moved his eyes to the floor. "I.. I don't want to be held like this, Miraye." He lifted the wrist of his sleeve to his nose, wiping it clean again, the chains clinking with movement. "I don't want to be kept as something, as.. property of .. anything. I'm not going to give in to it, Miraye. I don't want to be a slave."

"He could always keep us locked up, or just have us killed," Miraye responded plainly, taking her seat on the cold floor.

He paused for moment, looking to her as she sat, then continued softly. "I don't want him to hurt you either." They stared for an awkward moment; he turned his glance away, and continued. "You've got a lot of power... and he might want to use it. Wouldn't .. wouldn't he have killed you by now? ... for his own safety? I just think.. it's best.."

He ignored the dull sting behind his eyes, and the numb pressure against his forehead. He clenched his fists, raised his head, and gazed across the room determinedly. "We need to get out of here," he breathed. "We need .. to escape."