She knew no one could hear her. The basement, dug underground, was soundproof. Still, she screamed. A scream of despair more than pain, as after days of endless sessions of experiments, she was immune to it.

The needles burning her scalp were nothing compared to the constant headaches since the operation. Of that it had been days, or maybe weeks, she wasn’t sure. She was a prisoner of a bad dream; an utterly terrible nightmare.

Two wires protruded from from behind her ear, connecting a coin-like device to a battery hidden inside the professor’s old gladstone bag: A heavy burden she now had to carry everywhere.

“Why?” Alexander shouted, hitting the enormous barrel with the fist. His face, stamped on the porthole, was staring at the inside. Staring at his wife.

Claudia smelled the burned hair like many other times he left the machine running for too long. At first she worried about it, but now, with a badly cut mane that barely hid the huge scar, she cared about nothing. “What is dead stays dead.” She said, challenging him. She feared nothing either. Not anymore.

Alexander scowled defiantly, with the same fire in the eyes as the ones he had during the beatings. This time, though, he did not take off his belt but hurried to close the machinery.

“Why is it not working? Uhm.” Alexander said to himself. “The enhancer is increasing the capacity. Waves go either way. The, the… But why? “

The bell rang. By the time she had been in the machine, she knew it was mid-afternoon. The time Victor used to visit her.

The first time she put on the brooch but the professor noticed right away and took it off. Still, the young man did not need many visits to realize something was not right. The professor himself, with his extravagant behavior, was suspicious enough. The winces of pain and the limpings were also difficult to hide. When questions and complaints began, Alex stopped opening the door. Then, the actual nightmare started. The heavy beatings, the endless experiments, and the headaches.

Alexander, like every other time they received a visit, took his cudgel and sneaked upstairs, to make sure no one broke in. Alone, Claudia pulled and squeezed the leather straps, even knowing that they were unbreakable.

Her eyelids closed, following the melody of despair. The sound of heavy footsteps coming down the stairs.

Expecting the pain and suffering to continue, a voice that was not Alex’s surprised her. “Claudia!” Victor, staring at her, was pale as snow. “What has he done to you?” His words triggered a river of tears and her sobs rushed him to help.

How bad would she have to look to provoke such reaction? She wasn’t sure, because when she wasn’t tied to that horrible chair, Alexander had her imprisoned in her own room, which was now an empty cell, with only a blanket and a basin. And, of course, no mirrors that could be broken and used for other purposes.

“He cut your hair short. And… What are these? Stitches? What are these cables? For the gods!” Victor removed the last strap and helped her stand. The weakened legs gave out, and he grabbed her around the waist, a kind gesture that nonetheless made her hair stand on end. “I can by myself, thanks,” she said, pushing him away as politely as she could.

“For the Maiden!” Said a big muscular man backing up from the barrel. “This man was indeed mad, Mr. Shelley! As you said!”

“In this room you will find all the evidence you need to put him in jail, Mr. Gregson,” Victor said. “Just make sure you separate the navy research from the rest. That one needs to be delivered urgently to the Admiral.”

Gregson looked at the table. “I’m not sure I can do that, Mr. Shelley. It all seems the same to me.”

“I will do it then.” Claudia noticed a small grin of satisfaction, imperceptible if she wasn’t so close. Strangely, her mind saw through Victor clearly. Alex hadn’t worked on the navy project for a single day. What they had to separate was any document that involved him with Alexander's madness. It was a smart move to make the other man believe he could take the papers himself, knowing he couldn’t. She tottered with the sudden stabbing pain on the side of her head.

“Please help Miss Claudia!” Victor said, as he put some papers inside his bag. “Is that man in custody already? If so, I’d beg you to bring her outside of this stinky place.”

“He is not taken yet. He ran upstairs and locked himself inside a dorm. But don’t worry, my men are guarding the exits. He will eventually surrender.”

“Eventua-… surrender? Is a door too much of a trouble for your men Inspector?”

“It is when there is a piece of furniture behind it.” The inspector covered her with his jacket and, with firm hands, accompanied her upstairs. “Don’t worry Mr. Shelley. My men know how to handle a lab mouse.”

Claudia stumbled twice before reaching the dining room. There, another stranger bandaged her head with care. Someone was shouting on the first floor, repeatedly banging on a door.

It didn’t take long for Victor to return. “Inspector, that man is mad. He’d say anything to get his way out. Who knows what lies he is plotting inside that room.”

“With what I have just seen down there, he can say whatever he wants. He is going to a cell or to hell. And he will go either way in silence!” Gregson said, containing his rage.

“I am aware of the procedures of your investigation, Inspector, but as we have already discussed, I do not think we can-”

“Yes, yes. The city is evacuating. I will take your word as a proof of statement. In the situation we are facing, that will suffice.”

Victor helped Claudia to put on her wool hat and coat. “What will become of him? Can’t be left to Herjard, The army-”

“I've got instructions from high command, Mr. Shelley. Worry no more about this little lab rat and take care of the lady.”

Claudia grabbed the bag where the battery was hidden and allowed herself to be dragged by Victor’s clinging arms. “Then I leave it all in your hands inspector. Farewell and good luck!”

The evening was dark and chilly. Not cold as Claudia expected. The last time he went outside it was a sunny noon and it was still much colder. “How much... What month are we in?” She whispered without receiving an answer.

What was happening outside kept her from asking again. Streets that were normally empty at that hour were full of people running up and down with luggage and suitcases in hand. Whole families fleeing the city. Wagons full of furniture and trunks filled with belongings people didn't want to leave behind. A chaos full of despair and confusion. “Is Herjald invading Northislay?” She asked, louder this time.

“Oh, Claudia… It’s been weeks since Herjald’s forces set foot on the north of the island. This city is the last thing left of Northislay, and not for much longer.”

Claudia felt a stabbing pain in her heart. a pain accompanied by disbelief and unrest. “What happened to Oxbridge? And Bratsberg?”

Victor yanked on her arm to prevent a large burly man from trampling her. “There is no Bratsberg. Herjald’s ships reduced the city to ashes. About Oxbridge I cannot tell for sure, but there has been disturbing news from the countryside.” He gave another yank, this time softer, to signal her to enter the shed of a stately home, with a façade similar to Alexander’s but larger and more glamorous. A maid was waiting for them in front of a majestic entrance door. She was wearing a coat and a small bag was at her feet.

“I was worried, Sir,” she said, doing a curtsy and opening the door.

“Lynda. Thanks so much for waiting. That will be all. Is the fire still on?”

“Yes sir. Still.”

“Excellent. You can go now. Do not waste more time.”

“Take care of yourself, Sir,” the maid said, before disappearing into the crowd.

The hall was comfortable and warm. She sat down in front of the fire, not daring to take off her coat. Victor kneeled in front of her, clutching her hand. “In my bag I have a letter of passage from Admiralty and some old research papers of my father that will convince any of those fools to escort us anywhere we want to go. “

She tried to withdraw her hand, but only got him to squeeze more firmly. “We can go to Mestra, is a city with water canals instead of streets. You’d love it. Or we can go to Helsios, with its towns with white walls and flowered streets.”

She wanted to go back to the little house in the valley. Alone. “You should go Linee, Victor. Your father must be worried.”

“My father? He would never approve of us.”

She shifted uncomfortably on the couch, trying to get rid of his grip for a second time. “Us?” she babbled.

“Claudia. I’ve grown very fond of you… I really want… I’d like to… One day.” he said haltingly and with a trembling voice.

Still on his knees, the young man reached out, his torso touching her legs, which she immediately pulled to the side.

“Thank you for your help, Victor. Deeply. But I want to go now. Alone. I will manage.”

“But I… I love you! I want you to be my wife. I will take care of you!” he was approaching little by little. His head, his face, his lips. They were only a short distance away. Her discomfort turned to fear. He placed a hand on her cheek and caressed it, pausing the fingers on her chin. She shook her head to the side, but couldn’t get rid of that uneasy touch.

“I’m sorry Victor. I want to go now.” her words did not make him stop. She tried to wriggle free, getting him to frown.

“But I love you!” he said, confused, as if this was the first time he noticed her rejection.

“I’m sorry I have to go”. She repeated. Victor, as if he had suddenly forgotten what had happened seconds before, brought his lips a little closer, looking for a kiss with a desire that no longer could hide an animal instinct.

She pushed him with all her strength and stood. He resisted, but let her go promptly. His eyes widened with a fear of a man realizing he was going to make a terrible mistake. “I’m sorry, I didn’t…” He mumbled.

Claudia took a few steps back, looking out of the corner of her eye at the candle stand on the table, deciding if she could hit him if he tried again.

“I’m really sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you, forgive me.” Victor took a step forward and stopped short as Claudia grabbed the candle stand. “Don’t be afraid, I… I…“ He fixed his eyes on the floor, shamed to look at her.

A sudden popping sound spooked her. A noise like a sparkling wine stopper makes when the bottle opens.

Victor raised his face, his eyes even wider. A red stain grew on his shirt. The young man staggered and fell back to his knees.

After turning, Claudia jumped back, tripping over the chair. Alex was standing at the door with a small smoking pistol in his hand. Sprinkles of blood were all over his face and clothes. “Look what you made me do!” He said. The professor took one look at the small pistol and threw it to the ground, raising his other hand, which was clutching a bloody dagger. He strode towards her. “Look what you made me do!”

Claudia aimed with all her will, but the candle stand hit nothing. Alex grabbed her arm and, with a strong pull, sent her to the ground.

“Using your hooker charms, you’ve made this fool let loose his dogs on me!” He stepped closer, leaning over. In a quick desperate move, Claudia hit him in the temple. He leaned back, staggering but not falling as she expected.

The wound bled profusely. He shook his head at the sight of his own blood. “You need to come back home, or I sweat I will hurt-“

The professor’s words muted to the grip of a clenching arm around his neck. He fell to the ground with Victor over him. “Run! Run!” shouted the young man with a contorted face.

Claudia hesitated for a second but reacted to his next scream. A scream not of pain but of a furious struggle to contain his stronger opponent.

The street seemed quiet compared to what was happening inside. She staggered down the street, checking on her back constantly. The shock cooled, but not her fear. At the corner of the street she stopped, panting and dizzy. Her legs were shaking.

No sights of Victor or Alexander.

She turned right, heading towards the Grand avenue of the docks, with the hope to find a ship that would take her away. As far as possible.

Her mind planned all steps to follow. It realized the best place to go was Linee, she had the letter to passage, and the papers of Victor’s father. With a stronger headache than ever, she checked once again over the shoulder. No one followed. She was free.

Her legs gave out and her fall on the sidewalk caught the attention of two soldiers. “Miss! Are you all right?” One of them said, while the other offered his hand to aid.

“I have papers from Mr. Shelley’s research. It’s an important Admiralty research. He sent me for help! He is in danger!”

The older soldier, a tall, 30-year-old with a huge mustache, ran out for help. The other, a boy as young as Claudia, offered her a canteen with a determined hand. “I have some water. It will help.”

More calmly, she remembered how, when, and why she had taken Victor’s briefcase. She struggled to believe how quickly everything had happened. Her mind pushed her to take the briefcase without even thinking about it and decided in a few seconds the best escape plan. The intensity of her thoughts brought back the headache, and she squeezed her eyelids to battle the pain.

“Are you all right, Miss?” said the young soldier. She turned, hiding with her hand the little of the cables her coat and cap couldn’t hide. A slight nod kept the boy at a distance. Soon his companion returned with more soldiers in red, and an older one, dressed in black with shining shoulder straps, leading the group. He spoke first with authority. “What’s going on here? Who attacked this young lady?”

“She has important documents for the Admiralty, lieutenant.”

The officer narrowed his eyes and extended a hand, expecting the papers Claudia handled immediately.

“What is this? I recognize the letter of passage, but the rest? Is this some sort of research?”

“I work for a university researcher. Mr Shelley. He has some important documents to deliver to his father in Linee. It’s important! He is-“

“If it is so important, why did he send you? Where is this man?” Interrupted the officer.

“He was attacked by a madman who works for Herjald! You need to help him… he is in his house.”

The officer’s eyes widened. “You should have started with that, young lady. Where is this place?”

Claudia gave a precise description of the house, even the number and a street name she didn’t even remember knowing. The lieutenant sent his men first and followed at a slower pace. “Scott, Jenkins. You make sure this lady gets a passage to Linee. She has priority. Do not leave her side until you find Commodore Richards and tell him about this.”

The uniformed couple tensed and saluted. Claudia put back the papers inside the case and followed them.

“No worries, Miss. You’re safe now. You’ll sail on one of our best warships to Linee in no time.”

Linee, the city of dreams, was the capital of the Marquisate. A place she’d never had the thought to visit. A city of tales of such charming beauty that, true or not, still felt like a light of hope at the end of a dark, long tunnel.