Chapter 17: Rogues

Evelyn’s POV

When my consciousness slowly returned, I was met with an all-encompassing darkness. My hands and feet were bound tightly, the ropes biting into my skin. I tried to move, but the restraints held me firm. I was in a cold, damp underground cell, barely illuminated by a flickering bulb that cast a weak light over the grimy walls. The air smelled of mildew and despair.

I squinted through the dim light, trying to make sense of my surroundings. The cold concrete floor was littered with straw and discarded scraps of food, doing nothing to alleviate the oppressive sense of hopelessness that hung in the air. As my eyes adjusted, I noticed that I wasn’t alone. There were others huddled in similar conditions, their figures mostly shrouded in shadow. I could make out the shapes of several women, all of whom were similarly restrained.