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. The world I knew had been yanked away in an instant, and now, I was trapped in an abyss of darkness that seemed to consume me whole. My breathing quickened, my thoughts racing, trying to piece together what had just happened and what it all meant. The suffocating blackness around me

ugh money to leave in the morning, to finally start anew. But it seemed fate had other plans for me. Now, I was faced with the harsh, unforgiving reality that I was in grave danger-a danger I couldn't fully understand. What had gone wrong? Where had I miscalculated?

ended? Was this how my life was meant to unravel-taken and discarded like I was nothing? The thought gripped me with icy fingers, and I felt my body tremble uncontrollably. I tried to fight the panic rising in my chest, but it was no use. The darkness

screamed for oxygen, my chest heaving as I fought for every small intake of air. My head spun, and dizziness overtook me as I felt myself slipping further into unconsciousness. The lack of oxygen was maddening, the burning in my lung

and commanding. The sound jolted me slightly, though my body still felt weak and unresponsive. Another man's voice thundered, "I told you, we can't. The king said clearly that we cannot torture her now." The word 'torture' sent a chill do

hing-I wasn't blindfolded anymore. At first, I wasn't sure if I could even open my eyes. Was it fear keeping them shut, or was it something else? My body was paralyzed with terror, every muscle refusing to move. I wanted to scream, to cry, to beg for merc

y had they taken me? What did they want? I couldn't find any answers, only more questions that deepened my despair. Desperation clawed at me, urging me to fight, to run, to do something-but how could I? My hands were bound, my body weak, and my mind overwhelmed

fresh wave of terror crashing over me. My body trembled violently as I tried to make sense of his threat. Eat me alive? What kind of monsters were these people? The man's frustration seemed to boil over as he grabbed my hair roughly, yanking me forw

hing." The words barely escaped my mouth, quivering with fear and desperation. My heart pounded so loudly that it drowned out the sound of my own voice. I couldn't comprehend what was happening, why these men had such hostility toward me. They didn't look like police officers, nor did they seem like any other sort of authority figures. They were something else entirely-something more dang

cefully, "Please! I need an explanation. Why am I here? What do you want from me?" My voice echoed in the unfamiliar space, trembling with raw terror. My mind raced, grasping for anything-any piece of logic or reason that could explain why I had been brought here. But there was nothing. No clue, no answers, just the suffocating rea

ease, believe me!" My eyes darted between the men, searching for even the faintest hint of compassion or understanding, but their expressions remained hard and unreadable. The man in charge crossed his arms over his chest, his posture radiating authority and menace. He looked less like a gang member and more like a powerful boss-som

onesty would soften his rage, but his expression remained stony and unreadable. Another man stepped closer to me, his demeanor calmer but no less intimidating. He appeared younger than the others, and there was something unsettling about the way he leaned in toward my face. "Lucas?" he asked, his voice quiet but sharp. "Your boyfriend?" I shook m

it was no use. He was too strong. With frightening ease, he shoved me into the chair and began wrapping ropes around my body, binding me tightly. I thrashed and squirmed, but the ropes cut into my skin, holding me in place. Once he was satisfied, he reinforced the bindings with tape, ensuring that I couldn't move a muscle. My breaths came in

e snarled, his voice low and menacing. "I will kill you-" But before he could finish his sentence, a deafening gunshot echoed through the room. My eyes widened in horror as I watched him collapse to the floor, blood pooling beneath his lifeless body. His head hit the

face. Slowly, I lifted my eyes to see the same handsome man who had spoken earlier-the one who seemed to be in charge. His presence was overwhelming, his gaze piercing as he looked down at me. "Who are you?" I asked weakly, my voice barely above a whisper. "Why am I here?" My question h

ect, made it clear that he was no ordinary man. He held power-real, undeniable power-and that realization made him even more terrifying. Yet, there was something about him that both frightened and intrigued me in equal measure. His name resonated with autho

eriousness. Even so, there was no denying the danger that radiated from him, like a storm waiting to unleash its fury. My gaze darted to the lifeless body on the floor, and I couldn't help but think about how effortlessly he had killed that man. H

I didn't know how much more my body could take. My hands were still bound, my muscles stiff and aching, and my mind teetered on the edge of panic. Elijah turned his head toward me, his sharp, calculating eyes locking onto mine. Th

e leaving no room for argument. "And you will answer me honestly. If you lie, I will make sure you won't leave this room alive. Do you understand?" His w

as I recognized the figure being pulled into the room-Lucas. He looked disheveled and battered, his face pale and his eyes wide with panic. The sight of him filled me with a mix of emotions-anger, fear, and

t in a rush, and I could see the fear in his eyes as he tried to defend himself. Elijah raised a hand, silencing him with a simple gesture. His piercing g

because I turned eighteen. I had nowhere to go, no one to turn to. I was homeless and desperate. Then I met him-Lucas-by chance. I didn't know he was a drug addict or that he was involved in anything dangerous. He offered me a place

d sell some of his drugs-just once-if he promised to let me go afterward. It was my first time. I didn't know what I was doing. I swear, that's the truth.

. Before I could react, Elijah moved. He walked toward me with slow, deliberate steps, his expression unreadable. My heart pounded as he reached down and

aught me off guard, and I gasped, my cheeks flushing with a mix of embarrassment and indignation. "No!" I said quickly, wiping the

s I watched him aim it at Lucas. "No!" I cried out, but it was too late. The gunshot rang out, and Lucas's body crumpled to the

cold and unwavering. "I hate liars," he sa