chapter 52

Sierra pov.

My hands were tied tightly with a coarse rope, cutting into my skin, and a similar restraint encircled my neck, making it difficult to breathe. I was bound to a towering tree, my body exhausted and trembling.

I endured relentless stoning, assaulted by a barrage of rocks and debris from every direction. My clothing was tattered and soiled, a testament to the hatred the villagers harbored towards me. Ashamed, I lowered my gaze, avoiding the piercing stares of the crowd.

The physical pain inflicted upon me paled in comparison to the heart-wrenching ache of being rejected by my own kind. The torment of knowing my loved ones now regarded me with regret sliced through me like a thousand blades.

Examining my hands, battered and caked in dirt and wounds, I squeezed my eyes shut, trying to escape the reality that haunted me since the day I was born.

Outside, the clamor of people's angry shouts echoed, but gradually, a hushed presence enveloped the surroundings. Opening my eyes, I c