"We need to leave—this door isn't budging at all!" Lia exclaimed, her voice taut with urgency as she struggled to pry open the heavy door to the torture room. She yanked at the handle with all her strength, but despite her efforts, the door remained shut, locked tightly and unmoving.
With a worried glance, Lia looked back at Aether still unconscious, "Don't worry, Aether... I'll get you out of here, whatever it takes," she murmured, her voice carrying a steely resolve as she glanced around, scanning for any escape route.
She could slip through the narrow ventilation ducts or the cracks in the pipe and cracks if she transformed, but how could she leave Aether behind? He couldn't change forms as she could; they'd have to find another way together.
Just as she was searching for a way out, she froze,
Click!
Lia whipped her head toward the door, her heart hammering as she saw the knob begin to turn.