SophiaThe air smelled of dampness and dust. When I opened my eyes, the first thing I saw was a cracked ceiling and a dim lightbulb flickering weakly, casting intermittent flashes of yellowish light. My head felt heavy, my throat dry, and for a moment I couldn’t remember where I was. But then I felt it, the ropes around my wrists.My breathing quickened. I tried to move, but the bindings dug into my skin, too tight to escape. I was lying on an old bed, rough sheets beneath me, and a mattress that smelled of mold. It was disgusting. My heart pounded so hard against my chest I thought it might shatter.“You’re awake at last,” said a voice.I turned my head sharply. There he was —Dante— sitting across from me, a calm smile on his face. His blue eyes were fixed on mine, but they weren’t the eyes of the man I once knew. There was something different now, darker, broken.Beside him, on an old wooden table, sat a tray of food: my favorite fruits, a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice, hom
Last Updated : 2025-10-24 Read more