Isabella’s POV
The next morning, I woke up with something I hadn’t felt in weeks.
Excitement.
Like an itch under my skin, buzzing through my veins.
Yesterday hadn’t been a dream. I had actually stepped out of that suffocating room. I had actually walked the halls without being dragged back in chains. And even though I hadn’t made it past the front doors, it didn’t matter—freedom, even in crumbs, was still freedom.
So, naturally, I decided to take full advantage of it.
I hopped off the bed, ignoring how my hair looked like a bird’s nest and how the oversized sweater Elena had smuggled me felt more like a blanket than actual clothing. I didn’t care. My heart was already racing as I yanked the door open and peeked into the hallway.
Empty.
Good.
I padded barefoot into the corridor, ev
