RAVENNA
It happened so fast, I didn’t even hear footsteps.
One moment I was walking, breathing in the cold night air, my thoughts tangled in a thousand places. The next, a rough hand slammed over my mouth from behind, yanking me back so hard, my feet barely touched the ground.
I froze.
The grip was iron and unyielding, crushing my jaw until my teeth ached. My heart thudded painfully in my ears, and my breath came out in hot, shallow bursts against the palm pressed to my lips.
Panic clawed up my chest.
I bit down hard—my teeth sank into flesh, tasting the metallic tang of blood. The person grunted, their grip loosening for just a heartbeat. I tore free and stumbled forward, but I didn’t get far.
The same hand snatched me again, this time bruising my arm in its grip. It was tighter n
