Chapter 11

• With a gasp, Hazel woke up, drenched in sweat. The vividness of the dream lingered, leaving her heart pounding. She surveyed the room, finding the bed comfortable yet unfamiliar. This wasn't the room she remembered, not a place she could recognize. The realization hit her — she was in Wyatt Romano's captivity. A surge of panic propelled her out of bed, and she hastened toward the door.
• "Please, open the door!" Her plea echoed, met only by the silent resistance of the locked door. Her hands pulled at the doorknob, exhausted and weary, the desperation in her cries reverberating. The door yielded suddenly, revealing a figure approaching her.
• "Hazel," the caution in her step back vanished as she saw Dimitry in a wheelchair. A glimmer of hope danced in her eyes; perhaps he might be an ally. Extending his hand, Hazel rushed and knelt before Dimitry. "He's an animal," she confessed, her emotions erupting into tears.