Chapter 29

• Belle***
• The blindfold over my eyes had stolen my vision, but in its absence, my other senses roared to life, screaming in warning. My breath was loud in the silence, each inhale sharp, each exhale a ragged plea. The chair beneath me was unyielding, its cold bite seeping into my bones. The ropes binding my wrists and ankles dug deeper into my flesh with every slight movement, the fibers rubbing my skin raw. My fingers twitched, desperate for an escape that didn’t exist.
• Footsteps. Slow. Deliberate. Each tap against the damp floor sent a jolt of dread skittering down my spine. The scent of mildew mixed with something fouler—rotting wood, decay, and the unmistakable tang of dried blood. The air was heavy, stagnant, as if it had been trapped in this hellish place for too long.