Chapter 2 Clara woke to sunlight spilling through a huge window, soft and golden, but everything else felt unreal. The floor beneath her was smooth and warm, not the dirt and grass she had known. The air smelled of flowers and something sweet she couldn’t name. Her knees buckled as she swung her legs off the bed. For a moment, she thought she was still dreaming—maybe the fire, the screams, the violence had been a nightmare. But the pendant her grandmother had pressed into her hands burned faintly against her chest, reminding her that it had all been real. A soft knock at the door made her jump. “Clara? Good morning,” said a gentle voice. A woman stood there, smiling but cautious. She was tall, dressed in light silk, with an air of quiet authority. Behind her, a man in a sharp suit shifted nervously, his eyes darting between Clara and the room. Clara’s throat went dry. “I… I don’t know… where I am,” she whispered. The man stepped forward, hands raised slightly. “It’s alright.
Last Updated : 2025-12-04 Read more