CHAPTER ONE

Lina was woken by a heavy strike on her head, the impact sharp and brutal, sending a sharp pain through her skull. A broken gasp tore from her lips as her body jerked violently, her hands instinctively flying up too late to shield herself.

For a moment, she could not breathe. Her chest tightened painfully, her lungs refusing to cooperate as shock held her still. Her thoughts were slow and tangled, as though her mind had been dragged through something thick and suffocating.

She blinked rapidly, trying to force her eyes open, but the darkness remained absolute. It pressed in from every direction, swallowing everything, leaving her disoriented and terrified.

A dull ringing filled her ears. The pain in her head throbbed steadily, spreading outward, making it difficult to think clearly. She swallowed hard, her throat dry, her lips trembling slightly as she tried to steady herself.

Her body felt unfamiliar, almost distant, as though it no longer belonged to her. Every slight movement sent a wave of aching pain through her limbs. The surface beneath her was hard, rough and cold against her skin.

That alone was enough to send a quiet panic rising in her chest.

The last thing she remembered was simple. She had felt dizzy and slept after dinner, exhausted but calm. Nothing had felt wrong. Nothing had warned her that something like this would happen.

Her heart began to race, each beat louder than the last. If she had been in her room—Then where was she now? 

Why was everything dark? 

Why did nothing feel familiar?

She adjusted herself slightly, her hand brushing against rough ground. The texture scraped her skin, making her flinch sharply. Her fingers curled inward, pressing against her palm as if to ground herself.

“She was not in her room.”

Before she could process that thought, another strike landed on her leg, harder than the first. The pain exploded instantly, forcing a raw, uncontrolled scream from her throat.

She hunched over, her arms wrapping around herself in a desperate attempt to protect what she could. Her breath came out in short, broken bursts, her chest rising too fast, too uneven.

Tears filled  her eyes, but she forced them back, biting down hard on her lower lip to stop herself from making another sound.

She tried to move away, but her limbs felt weak and unresponsive. There was nowhere to go. The darkness gave her no direction, no escape.

A faint movement nearby made her freeze.

Her body stiffened immediately, every muscle locking in place. She could not see them, but she could feel their presence. The air changed, heavy and threatening, making her instincts scream danger.

She braced herself, her body trembling despite her effort to stay still, waiting for another strike that might come at any second.

Then a voice cut through the darkness.

“Let her be. She just arrived. She is fragile and not like the others.”

The voice was deep and controlled, carrying quiet authority that immediately silenced everything else.

“If we deform her now, she will be useless. That would be a loss.”

Lina’s breath caught in her throat.

The words did not bring comfort. They made something cold settle deep inside her.

Another voice responded, quieter, hesitant, as though careful not to challenge the first.

They were talking about her.

Not like a person.

Like something that could be used—An asset.

Her fingers dug into the ground, her nails pressing into her skin as she fought the urge to speak. Fear held her still, heavy and suffocating.

The deep voice continued, colder now.

“Every dime spent must be recovered with profit, profit is the only language we recognize.”

A low laugh followed.

It was controlled, empty, and deeply unsettling.

A chill ran through Lina’s body.

Her hands began to shake, small at first, then harder as fear took hold. The cold beneath her seemed to penetrate into her bones, making her feel exposed and powerless.

Her thoughts scattered, jumping from one fear to another. Nothing made sense.

If this was a nightmare, it needed to end.

But the pain was too real.

Too sharp.

Too present.

This was not a dream.

She was not safe.

The voices faded, leaving her alone again in the darkness. The silence that followed felt heavy, almost watchful.

Her breathing slowed slightly, enough for her thoughts to begin forming again.

How did this happen?

She searched her memory desperately, replaying the last moments before sleep. Nothing stood out. Nothing explained this.

Something is wrong.

Then suddenly the words she had heard echoed again in her mind.

“They had spent money on her.”

That meant this was planned.

The realization hit her harder than the pain.

Someone had done this—Someone had brought her here.

Her heart began to pound heavily as fear deepened into something colder.

This was not random.

This was deliberate.

Questions filled her mind, faster than she could process them.

She lay huddled on the floor, her body aching, her thoughts racing.

Who sold her?

And why?