I woke with a start, the lingering warmth of that strange man's fur still wrapping around me like a forgotten dream. The cell—a grim reminder of my current reality—was a peculiar mix of claustrophobic and eerie. I rubbed my eyes, hoping that when I opened them again, I would be back in my bed at home, the smell of hot cocoa drifting from the table, and my parents' voices coming from the kitchen. But the sight before me only confirmed my fears. The heavy wooden door loomed at the end of the room, chained with iron, while the polished bars shone coldly under the dim light.
A shiver ran down my spine. I pushed myself up into a sitting position, pulling the thin blanket tightly around me as if it could shield me from whatever horror might come next. The growling from earlier still echoed in m
