[ They're two days into the curses when Zerxus realises he hasn't reached out to his inmate yet. Hey may or may not punch a wall when this strikes him, but nothing in his voice reflects that: it's steady and soft, out of sheer force of will. ]

Meng Yao? This is Zerxus. I'm your warden, for now, and I'm sorry I didn't speak to you earlier. Are you all right?