Beneath the Surface.
Dominic stood in front of me, his presence heavy like a thunderstorm about to break. I could feel his gaze on me. No words escaped his lips, but his sorrow was palpable. It was the kind of silence that demanded acknowledgment but refused to break.
The world felt distant, as though I was floating, suspended between realities. I could hear Kurt's feet shuffling behind me. Pulse. Pulse. The sound was almost rhythmic. I couldn’t escape.
It was like my entire body was adjusting to any small shift in the environment.
I felt the roughness of the rocky ground beneath my belly, with each jagged stone reminding me of my vulnerability. Pulse. Pulse. My body throbbed with the force of it.
Dominic’s voice broke the silence. "Untie Joan," he commanded, his voice rough, hoar
