Page 41 of A Fate in Flames

I flinched, the sound rattling my skull.The pouch sat on the ground like a silent offering, or a cruel trick.My body screamed as I crawled to it, every muscle aching as I inched closer, pushing through the pain.I fumbled with the leather ties before finally managing to open it.

Water.

I brought it to my cracked lips and drank.It could’ve been poisoned, but I didn’t care.The liquid was warm and earthy—not pleasant, almost too thick.It soothed my parched throat as it slid down, coating my insides with blessed moisture.In that moment, I would’ve welcomed death if it meant quenching my thirst.

I’d barely swallowed the water when an invisible force slammed me against the rough ground.My head cracked against the stone.Stars exploded behind my eyes as agony tore through me, spreading from my core to my fingertips.

My lungs seized.The weight of someone, or something, pressed down on me, crushing my chest.

But nothing was there.Only empty air.

The pressure began to build, an invisible hand winding around my throat.Tightening with bone-crushing strength.Something cold and wet like a tongue slithered across my face, but there was nothing to see.I thrashed my head from side to side, hair matted with blood where my skull had struck the ground.

My hands flew to my neck, nails digging into my own flesh as I clawed at empty air, desperately seeking purchase on whatever was strangling me.Skin tore beneath my frantic scratching, warm blood welling under my fingernails.Every attempted breath was like swallowing fire.The vessels in my eyes began to burst as my vision blurred, darkness closing in from all sides.

I convulsed, my back arching unnaturally, heels digging in the ground as my body fought against the crushing force.A strangled cry died in my throat, trapped with the last precious bubbles of air.

This is it.I’m going to die.

Then, as suddenly as a candle being snuffed out, the weight vanished.I collapsed, boneless.A ragged, awful sound tore from my throat as air flooded back into my lungs with painful force, each inhale a knife between my ribs.Bile rose, burning my throat as I retched onto the ground.

I trembled violently, muscles spasming as I tried to lift myself onto my knees.My hair hung in filthy strands around my face as I fought to stay upright.

I didn’t have time to register my own survival before a force yanked my head back.Before I could cry out, I was slammed face-first into the ground.

White-hot pain exploded across my vision, my mouth filling with the sharp tang of blood.The metallic taste spread over my tongue as dizziness swallowed me whole.

I winced, squeezing my eyes shut.A broken cry croaked from my mouth, my hand clutching at the emptiness where my pendant should’ve been.

“Elira.”

My heart stuttered to a stop before lurching back into a panicked rhythm.

Theo.

I sprung upright, screaming as pain ripped through every fibre of my being.Blood poured freely down my chin, dripping in a steady patter onto the floor.I staggered around the small cell on unsteady legs, one arm wrapped protectively around my middle, the other outstretched, fingers splayed as I frantically searched for the source of his voice.

“Theo,” I called, my voice nothing more than a rasp.“Where are you?”

“They’re going to kill me.”His voice was hollow, distant—but unmistakably his.“Tell them the truth.”

I pressed my ear against the damp wall, straining to hear beyond it, desperate for any sign of him.

“Where are you?”

“Tell them the truth.”He pleaded, his voice breaking.“Save me, Elira.”

“Theo, please,” I begged.“Tell me where you are!”

The silence that followed was unbearable.

I waited.Listened.

And then, somewhere in the dark—

He screamed.

I sobbed violently as his wails intensified.The unmistakable sound of flesh meeting flesh followed, the wet, sickening crack of a blow landing.Of bones breaking.