Chapter 27

Syria’s POV

I kept telling myself there was no way out. That escaping this place would be close to impossible. But I couldn’t just sit still and watch everything spiral into madness. I had to do something. This insanity had to end. Right here. Right now!

Even though my body was weak, even though I could barely stand, I forced myself to move. I pushed through the pain and reached for my grandmother. She was fragile, almost lifeless, but I wrapped my arms around her and tried to lift her up. I didn’t care if I had to crawl out of here. We were leaving.

But of course, it wasn’t that easy.

“Where do you think you're going? What are you planning to do with her?!” Novene shouted behind me.

I spun around and glared at her with all the hatred I’d bottled up. “Try me,” I growled. “Come any closer and see what happens. And if you even think about telling Uncle what you saw—” I leaned forward, my voice colder now, “—then you’ll be dead to me. You remember what I did to you earlier? That wasn’t e