Michaela
The first day had been the worst of it. Stripping everything from my childhood home, watching our family pictures burn, and realising that Kristin had secretly resented me for years – that had been truly painful, nearly as painful in its own way as my stoning and Maya’s rejection.
But as time passed, I began to feel perversely grateful for Kristin’s spiteful decision to claim control over me.
After the first day, I refused to give her the satisfaction of seeing my pain or frustration. I concentrated all my effort on maintaining a calm demeanour, on keeping hold of my pride. It was an excellent distraction from the increasingly harsh labour I was ordered to do.
I remembered the promise I’d made to myself that night in the dungeon. No matter what happened to me, I would endu
