an's

breaking the oppressive silence. My steps slowed as I reached the heavy wooden door. I'd thought leaving her down here would t

brought filled the corridor, but the warmth of the meal didn't match th

kled and filled with dust, but her eyes-those fiery, defiant eyes-met mine immediately. They were sharp,

pped inside. The door creaked

She watched me, her gaze between my hands and the tray. She was always

" I said, my voice colder t

t unwavering. "You don't care if I eat or starve.

. "You think I enjoy this?" I snapped, my own anger f

So don't pretend like you're some noble hero. You'r

s both. I took a slow breath, trying to calm down the emotions inside

uring to the tray. "Yo

mile. "Strength for what? To en

rossed my face. She was right, of course. I had no justification for what

she was standing closer to the table, her expression unreadable. For a moment, I

saw h

She lunged, her arm swinging in a sharp manner. The pain exploded in my skull before I

ra'

art pounding so loudly it drowned out everything else. The basement door was heavier than I remembered, bu

dn't care. I ran on instinct, my bare feet slapping against the wooden floors

andle, my fingers trembling, and forced it open. The cool night ai

it was freedom. Without hesitation, I plunged into the tr

my lungs screamed for air. The fear drove me forw

ind me froz

, deliberate. An

rough the trees. Kieran was there, his figure a dark shadow among the branches. He

sharp and commanding. "Stop

hoping the little undergrowth would slow him down, but he didn't give up. I could hear him

o catch myself before falling. The delay cost me precious s

screamed, my

in the moonlight, were locked on me with a

slicing across my skin. But it wasn't enough. He was faster, stronger. I coul

n he wa

nearly fell. I twisted and fought, kicking and clawing, but his grip

ars streaming down my face

n a mask of fury and something else I couldn't name. H

nce of strength I had left, but it was us

wled, his voice

y head, not hard enough to hurt, but enough to weaken me. My vi

as his face, looking a

ast thing I sa