Chapter Forty-Four

*Ember’s POV*

"Aiden!" I sobbed. “Aiden?” I called to him again but he remained silent, unresponsive. Was he furious with me? Had my actions pushed him away, alienated him? What was he planning to do? How would he get here? And what would happen if he did?

The weight of my fears pressed down on me, crushing my spirit. I yearned for his comfort, his love, his unwavering support. But I also feared for his safety, for his life. I didn't want him to sacrifice himself for me, to risk everything in a futile attempt to save me.

As the night wore on, despair consumed me. Tears streamed down my face, each drop a testament to my anguish. I was alone, utterly and completely alone. I longed for the morning, for the dawn of a new day, hoping it would bring with it a glimmer of hope, a chance to escape this nightmare. But as I drifted off to sleep, haunted by the specter of my fears, I knew that the darkness would linger, a constant reminder of the trials that lay ahead.