ALORA
I woke with a start, gasping for breath as the nightmare's terror clung to me. My heart pounded violently against my chest, and I frantically touched my stomach, feeling the warmth of my skin beneath my trembling fingers. It was just a dream. But the pain, the fear—it had felt so real.
I shivered, pulling my knees to my chest as I sat in the cold, dark cell. The images from my dream lingered: the cold judgment of the council, the brutal accusation, and the spear piercing my body. My mind raced with fear and dread, wondering if it was a premonition or just my own anxieties manifesting in the most horrifying way possible.
As I tried to steady my breathing, the cell door slammed open, sending a jolt of fear through me. Two guards stormed in, their expressions as cold and unfeeling as
