“Run.”
The word still echoed in my mind, sharp and urgent, like it had been whispered by the wind itself.
But how could I run without being caught? I didn’t know the roads here. Even if I managed to escape, Tala would never agree to leave with me.
So, I sat on the cold, hard floor, knees pulled tightly to my chest, my heartbeat a frantic drum. Every breath I took felt heavy, as if the walls themselves were closing in. My palms were damp, not just from tears but from the constant awareness that danger was never more than a room away.
Footsteps approached.
I wiped my face in a hurry, forcing the redness from my eyes, and rose just as the door opened.
Tala entered, moving quickly, her hands clutching a tray with a steaming bowl of herb soup. Her eyes darted around the room before landin
