~CHAPTER NINETY ONE~ We drive longer than necessary, the silence inside the car stretching until it becomes uncomfortable. The city disappears behind us, replaced by open land and a quiet that feels… deliberate. When the car finally slows, gravel crunches beneath the tires, and we come to a stop in a place that looks almost unreal, calm, and isolated. The driver steps out and opens my door. I take my phone and step out without my bag, my heels touching the ground as I pause for a second, taking everything in. The air is cooler here, cleaner, and the stillness presses against my skin. I turn slowly, scanning the surroundings. “Where is this?” “I’m sorry, ma’am, but—” I lift my hand, cutting him off before he finishes. That ‘but`already tells me everything. He’s not allowed to say. “This way, ma’am,” he says instead, gesturing ahead. I follow him. The path we take is narrow, carved into the earth like it wasn’t meant for strangers. My steps slow slightly as I pull ou
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