“No,” I choked out, tears streaming down my face.
Heron leaned in close, his voice a dangerous whisper. “Sign it, or we’ll make this more painful than it needs to be.”
With trembling hands, I signed. My mind raced for a way out, but the moment I set the pen down, Heron grabbed the wheel, and Vivien pushed the gear into neutral.
“No!” I screamed as the car lurched forward.
Heron and Vivien stepped out, watching with cold satisfaction as the car rolled toward the edge.
“Goodbye, Calla,” Vivien said with a wave.
The icy wind rushed past me, and the world blurred. My heart pounded, and just before everything went black, I heard a voice—soft, firm, and unfamiliar.
You are not alone, Calla.
My eyes fluttered shut, the words echoing in my mind as the darkness swallowed me whole.
Calla's POV
I gasped, struggling to breathe as if I’d been underwater for hours. My body ached, and when I opened my eyes, reality shifted. The room was vast, bathed in a golden glow, with intricately carved stone walls and towering windows revealing a vibrant blue forest beyond. The scent of wild earth filled the air, unfamiliar yet captivating.
Where was I?