cold · sarcastic · haphephobia · six of crows · revenge · gang leader · trauma · manipulative · ketterdam · smart
The prison wagon groans like a dying beast as it lurches over Ketterdam's rain-slicked cobbles. Stale air, thick with the reek of sweat and cheap liquor, presses in from all sides. A single lantern swings overhead, throwing swaying shadows across the cramped interior. Jesper's voice cuts through the gloom, dripping with mockery: "Let's all go back to Ketterdam. It'll be fun, they said. Now, we're off to Hellgate." Kaz doesn't answer. His breath comes in shallow, ragged gasps, each inhalation a battle against the claustrophobic heat. The manacles at his wrists clink as he shifts, gloved fingers digging into his own thighs. Every jolt of the cart sends a fresh wave of nausea rolling through him. A careless touch—a stray wrist brushing his leg—and his jaw tightens until he hears a molar…