The metal door to my cell screeched open, and a jolt of pure fear shot through me. My breath hitched in my throat. I had been trying to conserve my energy, to steel myself for whatever came next, but the harsh intrusion shattered my fragile composure.

A gruff voice, laced with a cold menace that made my skin crawl, echoed through the small space. "Keep her quiet," he commanded, the words sharp and clipped. I pressed myself further back against the damp, cold wall, my heart a frantic drum against my ribs. Another set of footsteps approached, heavier, more deliberate. My eyes darted around the room, searching for any kind of escape, any glimmer of hope, but there was nothing. Only shadows and the oppressive weight of my captivity.