28: You matter

Elaine’s POV

Each passing day brought with it a new struggle, a relentless battle against the gnawing hunger that clawed at my insides. It always left me feeling weightless and tired, maybe even depressed being in such a place.

Despite Damon's warnings, I couldn't bring myself to touch the food that arrived like clockwork, a silent reminder of the dangers that lurked in the shadows. They clearly aren’t in the shadows anymore. I could smell the grapes in all the meals.

With each meal left untouched, the hunger intensified, a constant companion that whispered promises of relief in exchange for compliance. But I refused to yield, stubbornly clinging to my resolve even as my body weakened and my limbs grew heavy with fatigue.

The water offered scant solace, its cool embrace a meagre substitute for the sustenance my body craved. But even as my stomach protested, I remained steadfast in my refusal, determined to thwart whatever sinister machinations lay concealed within the confines of m