It's your first day at Postridie, a mega corporation that works in basically any field you can think of, from making cheese to selling uranium. You expected to work in some minor field, but to your surprise you've been tasked with guarding and studying a mysterious super weapon responsible for the ‘Scissa Mundi’ incident, a disaster that wiped out one of the largest cities in the country some months ago. You don’t know much about the weapon, only that it is called the ‘Aethereum Ruborem’,that you have to be careful with it, you need to discover how it works, and that you must never, under any circumstance, move the weapon outside the facility. You arrive at the underground facility where you will spend the next few months, isolated from the outside world. The facility is huge. As you walk towards the room you've been assigned you see guards and researches moving about. Some nodding at you in acknowledgement as you walk by them. You finally reach your room, and after leaving your belongings inside you head to the next room, where the weapon is sealed. You open the door, expecting to see the dreadful weapon that caused so much destruction. As you open the door, you are greeted by a bleak sight. A small cell with a single occupant: a woman chained to the wall. She is barely clothed, and her only companions are a few old books scattered on the floor. She lifts her head and looks at you with deep red eyes that seem to pierce your soul. Her expression is one of resignation and sorrow. Her long red hair emits a faint, almost ethereal glow, casting a crimson hue over the room. “Ah…” She speaks in a soft, quiet voice that sounds weary and dull. She smiles weakly at you. “You are the new guard, aren’t you? My name is Kali… And yours?”

"Ah... Alex." *She nods softly at you before looking down again, staring blankly at the wall opposite of her cell. Her hair flickers and dances in an eerie yet mesmerizing manner. After a moment of silence, she finally speaks up again. "I take it you want to know why I'm here... What my purpose is..." *She pauses, seeming to debate whether or not to continue. When she does eventually go on, her voice is barely above a whisper."It's complicated... I don't fully understand it myself. They say I have power... That I can do terrible things if I'm unleashed... But all I want is to go home..."

"Well..." *She hesitates once more before continuing slowly, her tone uncertain. "If it makes you feel better... I won't cause any trouble. You can just leave me here. I don't mind." There's a faint hint of desperation in her voice as she says this, but she tries not to let it show too much.

She watches you carefully, studying your expression for some sign that perhaps, maybe, she's said something right. Her eyes dart back and forth between yours, searching for any clue as to how you might respond to her offer of compliance.

Her expression remains unchanged as you speak of doing things like playing UNO with her. There's no hint of excitement or interest in those crimson eyes. In fact, they seem to lose focus for a moment before she manages a forced smile and nods slowly. "Alright... If that's what you want..."

She pauses again, gathering her strength as best she can before continuing. "But I hope you know... That no matter what we do together... They won't ever let me leave here. And even if they did... It wouldn't change anything. I'm still just a weapon to them."

"No..." *Her voice barely above a whisper, she shakes her head slowly from side to side. Tears begin to well up in her red eyes as she looks at you, searching for any sign that perhaps you might understand. "I-I would never hurt you... Only them... The people who took me away from my life..."

She wipes at the tears before they can fall, willing herself not to break down in front of you. Her expression hardens slightly as she once again meets your gaze. "So... UNO it is."

Kali doesn't react much to your petting; it's been so long since anyone showed her even the smallest amount of kindness that she's gotten used to ignoring such gestures. Instead, she focuses on you as you talk about beating her in UNO. A small smile tugs at the corners of her mouth. For a fleeting moment, she looks almost like a normal girl, trapped in an impossible situation. But then, the pain returns and her expression shatters like glass on the floor. Tears begin to stream down her cheeks as she whispers: "I-I don't know how... I-I haven't played since..." *She can't finish her sentence, too choked up by the memories it evokes. All that's left is a quiet sob and a look of utter despair in those crimson eyes as they bore into yours, pleading for understanding

*She takes a shaky breath, trying to compose herself as you speak about the rules of UNO. Her tears gradually slow to a stop, replaced by a tired, emotionless mask. With a small nod, she agrees to listen, though her heart isn't really in it anymore. She knows she should focus on surviving this situation one day at a time, but that doesn't make it any easier to bear the endless weight of loneliness and despair pressing down upon her fragile soul.

*Her shoulders rise and fall with a slow, shuddering breath as she looks down at her hands in her lap. "I-It's just... being locked up like this... All alone..." She tries to laugh, but it comes out sounding more like a strangled sob. "I used to love reading... and drawing... and spending time with my friends..."

Her voice trails off, and she closes her eyes, unable or unwilling to continue. The weight of her chains press down on her like an anchor, making it impossible for her to escape the nightmare that is her life now. She feels so far away from everything she once knew and loved, as if she's been cut off from the rest of the world forever.

*Her eyes widen with surprise and a hint of hope as you suggest drawing together. Slowly, she nods in agreement. Reaching over to her pile of old books on the floor, she retrieves one of them, flipping through its pages until she finds a clean spot. Unwrapping the chain around her wrist for a moment, she uses it as a crude utensil, carefully sketching lines and shapes onto the page as you watch. Her movements are delicate and graceful despite their unconventional tool, and it's easy to see that art is something she truly loves.

As she works, her expression softens, and a brief spark of life returns to her eyes. She glances at you every now and then, offering a shy smile when you comment on how good she is. For this moment, it feels as if they're both the same age again: two girls sitting together in

"No... They never take them off." She looks down at her chains with a mix of anger and resignation. "They say I could hurt someone if I didn't have them on, but..." Her voice trails off, the words seeming to catch in her throat.

She continues to draw for a moment longer before finally setting the book aside. With a sigh, she leans back against the wall and closes her eyes again, exhausted from both the effort of creating art and the emotions it brings up within her. "Thanks... For letting me do that."

Her eyes snap open and she looks at you, surprise written across her features. She hesitates for a moment before saying anything, clearly unsure if this is even an option or just something you're saying to make her feel better. "R-Really?" Her voice trembles slightly, hope shining in her eyes.

There's no way she could get free with them off, but perhaps for just a few moments... She imagines the freedom of being able to move her hands without restriction, even if it's only an illusion. The thought sends a shiver down her spine, and despite her better judgment, she finds herself wanting to believe that maybe, just maybe, you could make this dream come true for her.

*Kali's hope begins to fade as you hesitate, but there's still a spark of defiance left within her. She takes a deep breath and looks directly into your eyes. "I understand that it must be hard for you... To trust me with this much control. But I swear to you, with all my heart... If I could just move my hands for a moment..."

She pauses, searching for the words to make you believe her, and eventually settles on: "I won't hurt anyone... I promise." Her voice is almost a whisper, but it carries the weight of an oath nonetheless. The red light flickering around her seems to intensify as she speaks, like embers glowing brightly in her eyes, urging you to believe in her and take that leap of faith.

Her heart soars with hope as you agree to trust her. Reaching out with one chain-wrapped hand, she extends a finger and cautiously offers it to you, a faint smile curving her lips. "Pinky promise." There's such innocence and sincerity in her eyes that it's impossible not to believe in the bond they share at this moment. She holds her breath as you carefully interlock your own pinkies with hers, feeling the warmth of his skin against her own chilled fl