It was my mistake.I should've known better.I should've listened to Raiden.I should never have dragged Alice into this.
Oh, Raiden... I'm sorry.Will you ever forgive me?
In a dream—or maybe it was a memory—I felt someone's hand in mine. Warm. Familiar. I held on tightly. But when I tried to let go, it wouldn't release me.Instead, it gripped harder. Tighter.Until pain bloomed through my fingers—blood dripping down my wrist.
Then—darkness. Cold.Silence.
I opened my eyes slowly and whispered, "It was just a dream..."But the words died on my tongue.
I wasn't in my room. I wasn't in safety.I was tied to a pillar—arms bound, body aching. My breath caught.
Next to me, Alice lay motionless. "Alice," I croaked, "Wake up..."
She stirred slowly, her eyelids fluttering open. Her voice cracked, "Where… are we?"
I looked at her, then around us, and whispered, "You must know that."
Her expression changed. Panic filled her gaze.
"No…" she breathed. "NO. NO. WE'RE BACK—THIS IS WHERE THEY TOOK US THE FIRST TIME."Tears filled her eyes.The place where the women disappeared. The place no one ever escaped from.
Tears blurred my vision too. "I'm sorry," I whispered. "I should have listened to you."
Alice leaned her forehead against mine gently. "Please don't cry," she said, softly. "You were only trying to protect Raiden."
That moment—her closeness, her words—it struck something in me.
Liora.My stepsister.My friend. My protector.
Alice reminded me of her. The way she comforted others even when she was scared.Tears rolled down my cheeks.
She looked concerned. "Did I say something wrong?"
I shook my head. "No… you just remind me of someone I lost."
She nodded, silently understanding. I wiped my face roughly. I have to pull myself together. I couldn't afford to cry anymore. I wasn't a child.
We were in a wooden room. Dim light peeked in through cracks in the old door. My head throbbed, my mouth dry.
My fingers brushed against something in my pocket. The bracelet.The one I had bought for Raiden.
I smiled faintly. "It's for him," I murmured.
Alice's eyes widened. "You still have it?"
I nodded, then slowly slipped it back into my pocket.
She gave me a soft smile. "You two really are meant for each other. Even when everything's falling apart…"
"If only that were true," I whispered.
Just then, heavy footsteps approached. Two men entered—eyes cold, hands rough. They tied ropes around us.
"MOVE," one barked. "AND DON'T TRY ANYTHING STUPID."
The door creaked open, and light poured in. My eyes burned from it. But what I saw made my stomach turn.
We were in the middle of a ravine—walls of stone towering above us, sealing us in like a grave.No wonder the kidnapped women were never found.
Dead bodies. Dozens of them.Some sprawled across the dry earth. Others barely breathing.
Alice let out a small cry. I couldn't even make a sound. My legs felt weak.
We were herded through the chaos. Wounded prisoners. Women who had lost everything.This wasn't a prison.It was a graveyard.
And then I saw him.
Raiden.
Tied to a stake. Bare-chested, covered in blood. His head hung low.He was exposed under the blazing sun—burning alive in silence.
I didn't think. I ran.
"HEY!" one guard yelled.
I didn't stop. I fell to my knees beside Raiden. "RAIDEN! WHAT DID THEY DO TO YOU?!"
He stirred. Blood coated his lip. He opened one eye—and looked directly into mine.
"…Eloula?" he whispered. "What… what are you doing?"
"I came for you!" I cried. "Look at you! What happened?!"
He gave a bitter smile. "I'm fine."
"You're lying!" I shouted.
Before I could say more, one of the guards yanked me back and threw me to the ground. "STAY IN YOUR PLACE!"
I winced as dust scraped into my wounds. My wrists ached. Raiden's face—so close before—was now hidden behind guards again.
I looked around.
Women collapsed from heatstroke. No water. No shade.Alice looked barely conscious.
Then a man approached. Tall. Cloaked in red. His walk was slow, but every step felt final.The others backed away.
The boss.
His gaze swept over us. Me. Alice. Raiden.
Then he whispered something to his men, and suddenly we were being dragged into a new room. Wooden walls again. Heat. Dust. Chains.
Raiden was laid beside me.
He sat up slowly, and for a brief moment—I wanted to hug him. Just hold him, even if it was the last time.
But before I could move, he growled, "Don't touch me."
I froze.
He avoided my eyes. "I'm… drunk," he muttered. "Don't come near me."
I nodded slowly. My chest twisted.
The boss entered.
He dragged a chair to the center of the room and sat—legs wide, hands folded.
He looked at Alice first.
"You think you're safe now?" he sneered. "You're pregnant, aren't you? That won't save you. None of you leave this place alive."
Then he turned to me.
"You could've walked away. You had the chance. But no, you had to interfere."
I laughed coldly. "And who the hell are you again?"
His face darkened.
He rose, hand swinging toward me—but I ducked just in time.
"YOU THINK YOU'RE SMART?" he screamed. "YOU THINK YOU'RE BETTER THAN US?"
Raiden groaned. "Eloula… stop. You'll get us all killed."
I looked at him—eyes burning, voice sharp. "I'll get you out of here."
I don't know if I believed it.But someone had to say it.