Chapter 125

HAZEL

The cold stone floor is my only comfort. Days blend into nights, and pain blurs into more pain. I drift in and out of sleep, my dreams filled with memories of freedom, only to wake up to this nightmare.

I hear the door creak open and my body tenses, bracing for another round of beatings. I don’t bother to open my eyes. I know what’s coming, it’s going to be the same thing.

“Get up!” The leader’s voice cuts through the silence, and I hear footsteps approaching.

I’m ready for the kick, the punch, the usual routine of pain. The silver around my neck, and maybe the injections might come again today. But nothing happens. Instead, I hear murmurs and soft voices that I’ve never heard before. I force my eyes open and see three women standing in front of me. One of them is the maid who showed me kindness before.

“What’s going on?” I manage to whisper, my throat dry and sore.

The leader steps forward, his eyes cold and cruel.

“You’re going to be cleaned up. Our king wants to