Chapter 32: Transferred

Sam sat in the dimly lit cell, his thoughts racing as he tried to anticipate the next move. He knew Nitin had a plan, but the uncertainty of the situation gnawed at him. The prison was cold and damp, the air thick with the smell of mold and despair. He had been imprisoned under the watchful eyes of Roy's bodyguards, and he knew that his current situation was precarious.

The sound of approaching footsteps echoed down the hallway, and Sam looked up to see one of Roy's men approaching his cell. Nitin's expression was tense but composed as he unlocked the cell door.

"Send someone to keep an eye on that bastard doctor. Don't let anything happen to him before I question him," Roy's bodyguard ordered.

A follower broke away from the group and stared at Sam intently.

"This follower wasn't part of your plan," Nitin whispered to Sam.

"Don't worry," Sam replied, his voice low and confident. "A mere follower won't affect the plan."

Once outside, Nitin handed Sam over to Roy's private guard, who was secretly tasked with transferring him to the central prison. The guard's face was impassive as he gripped Sam's arm tightly, leading him into the cell of the main jail.

After seeing that no one else was nearby, "Send that doctor apprentice to the central prison and make sure to do it without being found. I don't want people to question the reputation of the prisons," Roy's guard ordered, his voice cold and authoritative.

Sam felt a shiver run down his spine as he was led through the dark streets of Durinia. The guard moved swiftly, keeping to the shadows to avoid attracting attention. Sam's mind raced, trying to think of a way to escape, but the guard's grip was firm and unyielding.

As they approached the central prison, Sam's apprehension grew. The building loomed ahead, its stone walls thick and foreboding. The guard led him through a hidden entrance, avoiding the main gates. Inside, the air was even colder, the walls lined with iron bars and chains.

The guard took Sam to a secluded cell in the deepest part of the prison. "You'll stay here until the young master is ready to question you," he said, shoving Sam inside.

The cell door clanged shut, and Sam was left alone in the darkness. He knew this was not part of the original plan and felt a pang of uncertainty. Would Nitin be able to find him in this hidden place?

The next morning, Nitin arrived at the main jail, ready to visit Sam and discuss their next move. He approached the guards with confidence. "I'm here to visit the prisoner I brought in yesterday on Young Master Roy's orders," he said.

The guards exchanged uneasy glances before leading Nitin to the cell where Sam had been held. As they reached the cell, Nitin's eyes widened in shock. The cell was empty.

"Where is the prisoner who was supposed to be here?" Nitin demanded, his voice sharp with anger.

The guard who had brought him stammered, "Umm… I… I don't know, sir. He was here last night."

Nitin's eyes narrowed as he assessed the guard's bewildered expression. It was clear that the man knew nothing of the transfer. "Who authorized his removal?" Nitin demanded.

"I… I don't know, sir," the guard replied, his face pale.

Nitin clenched his fists in frustration. "Take me to the head of the prison. Now."

As they made their way to the prison warden's office, Nitin's mind raced. "That man from yesterday definitely had the ability to teleport through space," he thought. "He must have used it to save the women. But what if he ran away? Why did I trust a stranger so easily?"

Despite his doubts, Nitin knew he had to find Sam. The safety of the widow and her daughter depended on it.

They reached the warden's office, a dimly lit room filled with papers and maps of the prison. The warden, a stern-looking man with graying hair, looked up as they entered.

"Captain Nitin," he greeted, his voice gravelly. "What can I do for you?"

"I need to know the whereabouts of the prisoner I brought in yesterday," Nitin said, his tone demanding.

The warden frowned. "I wasn't informed of any transfer. Let me check the records."

He sifted through a stack of papers on his desk, his brow furrowing deeper with each passing moment. "There's no record of any prisoner being transferred from that cell."

Nitin's frustration grew. "Someone must have moved him. I need to know where he is."

The warden shook his head. "I'm sorry, Captain. If he's not here, then he's either been taken somewhere very secret, or he's managed to escape."

Nitin's mind raced. "The central prison," he thought. "Roy must have moved him there."

He turned to the warden. "I need access to the central prison. Now."

The warden's eyes widened in surprise. "The central prison? That place is off-limits to almost everyone. Only the highest-ranking officials and the young master have access."

As he left the office, Nitin's thoughts turned to Sam. "That man from yesterday… who is he? And why did I trust him so easily?"

He replayed the events in his mind, trying to piece together the puzzle. "If Sam has the ability to teleport, then he must be planning something. But what? And why would he risk his life to save the widow and her daughter?"

Despite his doubts, Nitin knew he had to find Sam. He couldn't let Roy's cruelty go unchecked, and he couldn't abandon the women who were depending on him.

As Nitin left, he couldn't shake the feeling that Roy was playing a deeper game. "I have to be careful," he thought. "Roy won't let me find Sam easily."

The central prison loomed ahead, its imposing structure even more foreboding up close. Nitin knew he had to rely on his skills to get inside without attracting attention. He waited until dusk, then silently approached the heavily guarded entrance.

Nitin used the shadows to his advantage, slipping past the guards with practiced ease. He picked the lock on a side gate, his fingers deft and sure, then carefully made his way through the prison grounds. He avoided the main corridors, instead navigating through maintenance tunnels and rarely used passageways he had memorized from a stolen blueprint.

Finally, he reached a heavy iron door, its surface cool and unyielding. Using a set of tools he carried, Nitin expertly unlocked it, revealing a dimly lit corridor lined with cells. He moved quietly, his senses heightened, until he reached the final cell.

There, Sam sat calmly on the floor, his expression unreadable.

"Sam," Nitin whispered, his voice a mix of relief and frustration. "What happened?"

Sam looked up, a faint smile playing on his lips. "I was moved here last night. Roy's doing, I presume."

Nitin nodded. "We need to get you out of here."

Sam's eyes glinted with determination. "I have a plan. But we need to be careful."

As Sam finished speaking, a loud noise echoed from down the hallway, the unmistakable sound of approaching footsteps. Nitin's heart raced as he quickly assessed the situation. The footsteps grew louder, closer, a clear indication that someone was coming their way.

Nitin turned to Sam, his eyes wide with urgency. "We don't have much time. Whatever your plan is, we need to act fast."

Sam nodded, his expression calm and focused. "Trust me. This will work."

The cell door creaked open as Nitin prepared to follow Sam's lead, his mind racing with possibilities and contingencies. They had come this far, and now every second counted. The stakes were higher than ever, and failure was not an option.

Just as the shadow of a guard appeared at the end of the corridor, Sam whispered one last instruction to Nitin. "Get ready. Everything hinges on this moment."

With the tension thick in the air and the weight of their mission pressing down on them, the two men braced themselves for what was to come. The next few minutes would determine their fate, and the fate of those they sought to protect.