The darkness was oppressive, a heavy shroud that wrapped around Casey's senses as she slowly regained consciousness. Her head throbbed with a dull ache, a familiar pain that seemed to echo the trauma she'd experienced just a few weeks ago. As she struggled to clear the haze from her mind, she realized her hands were bound behind her, the rope digging into her skin.
The air was thick with the scent of damp earth and moss, and the sounds of the forest filtered in, a symphony of running water, croaking toads, and chirping crickets that seemed to mock her predicament. A small lamp cast a faint glow from behind her, casting eerie shadows on the walls.
As she tried to scream, her voice was muffled by the sudden appearance of two men, one of whom was Luca. His eyes gleamed with an unnerving intensity in the dim light, and he moved with a swift, economical motion to cover her mouth. His hand was like a vice, pressing down on her lips and nose, making it hard to breathe.
