The next day, I woke up feeling worse than I had the night before. My body still ached all over, and every small movement sent a sharp pain shooting through me. I was lying on the bed where Bell had left me, but something felt off. It was too quiet.
I glanced toward the door. Usually, by now—around 12:00 PM—Bell would have knocked, bringing me food or fresh clothes. She might not have spoken much, but her presence was the only comfort I had in this place. At the very least, Theo always sent her to check on me once or twice. But today, there was nothing. No knock. No sound. Just silence.
My stomach growled, the emptiness making my pain feel worse. I sat up slowly, biting my lip to stop myself from crying out as my sore muscles protested. I limped toward the door and pressed my ear against
