(Lina's POV)
There are moments in your life that can completely change everything. They're like a trigger—a fleeting instant where one vital factor transcends all else: the will to survive. I had never felt it as strongly as I did now. As the men in darkened robes dragged me toward a cave deep in the woods, I struggled with a kind of strength I never thought I could possess.
There was a single moment of hesitation in their movements, and I broke free from the crowd, running into the cold, dark night. The moonlight paved the way for my escape, and I sprinted as fast as my legs would carry me, not pausing for a single breath. Fatigue pulled at my limbs, but the mental will to survive overpowered it.
However, once I reached the edge of the woods, my sense of triumph was short-lived. I was wrenched backward by two savage hands and slammed to the ground by my hair. My face scraped against the hard floor, and the wetness on my cheek made me realize there was a deep gash. Again.
I glared at the figures surrounding me now, my fear replaced by a savage anger that surprised even me.
They dragged me up, and we resumed walking toward the dreaded cave—where my death awaited. Needless to say, I wasn't in a hurry to get there. I struggled against the chains now clamped around my wrists, until a man with a nasty scar running down his face grabbed me and forced my back against his chest to keep me in place. His large hands clamped down on my shoulders, pain radiating down my arms. He brought his mouth to my ear and whispered,
"Stop struggling. I won't hesitate to kill you right now. Do as they say and then you can go."
I was about to reply with a very classy fuck off—until his words registered. Wait. Did he say I can go?
Confused, I walked without a struggle, pretending to behave while they milled around me, muttering nasty things. One of the hooded figures to my right was a woman—her voice suspiciously familiar as she clucked her tongue and muttered,
"So feral and violent. Just like that family of hers."
"What the hell did you say about my family?" My outburst was a clear indication of how quickly I forgot to behave. Scar-guy tightened his grip, and I winced, the pain now shooting down to my thighs from the pressure on my body. I hadn't even started paying attention to the stinging gash on my cheek, which burned in the wind. Such is my luck, I thought, lowering my head.
I hadn't given up—not yet. I kept track of any possible escape route, but it was pretty damned hard to stay optimistic in a situation like this. The sense of impending doom lingered, and bile rose in my throat as I thought of my family. Yet another thing I'd avoided dwelling on since I got here.
My family and violence didn't mix well—least of all in my mind. My absent and hopelessly aloof father was another story. He probably hadn't even noticed I hadn't called in a while. But my mother... I shook myself not to think about her. I hadn't in so long—why now, just because she was mentioned?
This must be that cliché—your life flashing before your eyes at death's door. Not exactly an experience I'd recommend.
The constant rattling of the chains rang in my ears, curating my very own playlist of death. I thought about Daniel, and my heart ached again—for an entirely different reason. Regret. I thought of his handsome face, his intense eyes. He may have moved on, but I still... loved him. Even after all this time. Even after convincing myself that his other side was the reason for my hesitation—it wasn't true. It was the hurt I felt when he left. I never wanted to feel that way again: a gaping hole in my chest, burning with every passing second.
Fear had kept me from choosing him. And now I was tasting the consequences of hesitation—realizing how fleeting life is.
The mob halted, and I raised my head. We had reached the cave. I straightened my shoulders despite the ache, driven by resolve. I'd be damned if I went out without a fight.
Suddenly, a splintering sound echoed, followed by a low hiss. Bodies dropped to the floor with arrows lodged in their backs.
My heart thundered. Daniel. He came for me.
Scar-face behind me realized my intention and clamped his hand over my mouth. I bit down—hard. He howled in pain and faltered for just a moment—just enough. I summoned every last shred of strength and screamed at the top of my lungs:
"DANIEL!"