Noah.
My chest burned with every ragged breath I took as I dragged myself through the shadowy corridors of the lower level. Pain radiated through my cracked ribs, and the sharp taste of blood lingered in my throat, but I couldn't afford to stop.
The guards were actively hunting for me, and time was running out. Maria was lying in a coma, entirely helpless, while those four arrogant bastards stood over her, waiting to force the final mark onto her skin.
I needed a solution. I needed a way out of this hellhole before it was too late.
I rounded a sharp corner near the old courtyard entrance, my mind frantically spinning through every possible option, when I nearly ran straight into a solid chest.
I stumbled back, clutching my side as a sharp groan escaped my lips. I snapped my head up, my vision slightly blurry, only to see Daniel standing right in front of me.
