Chapter 2

_Alina's POV_

The dungeon was a place of nightmares, a dark and dingy abyss that seemed to swallow me whole as soon as the heavy door slammed shut behind me. The air was thick with the stench of mildew and decay, making it difficult to draw a breath without gagging.

I stumbled forward, my legs weak and trembling from the ordeal I had endured at Caleb's hands. The dim light filtering through the tiny, barred window offered little solace in the suffocating darkness that surrounded me.

Every step I took sent waves of pain rippling through my body. I lowered myself to the floor and leaned against the wall for support. The rough stone wall was slick with moisture, the dampness seeping into my clothes and chilling me to the bone.

I recoiled as something brushed against my foot, a sharp pain shooting through me like a bolt of lightning. Looking down, I saw a large rat gnawing at my toes, its sharp teeth sinking into my flesh with a vicious fervor. With a cry of disgust and pain, I kicked out, sending the rodent scurrying away into the shadows.

The dungeon was infested with all sorts of insects. I watched in horror as they crawled closer, drawn by the scent of blood that clung to my torn flesh. With a grimace, I lashed out, crushing them beneath my foot as they scurried too close for comfort. But no matter how many I crushed beneath my feet, more seemed to emerge from the darkness.

Tears welled up in my eyes as I realized the depths of my despair. How had it come to this? How had I gone from dreaming of a future filled with love and happiness to being trapped in this hell?

As the days dragged on, my wounds began to fester and throb. The cuts and bruises had become infected, the skin around them swollen and inflamed. Pus oozed from the open wounds, mingling with the dirt and grime that coated my skin. I knew I had to do something to treat my wounds, to prevent the infection from spreading further and consuming me whole.

With no access to proper medical supplies, I was forced to improvise, tearing strips of fabric from my torn dress to bandage my wounds as best as I could. The makeshift bandages offered little relief, but I clung to them desperately, hoping that they would stave off the infection long enough for me to find a way out of this nightmare.

The guards who brought me food were as cruel as Caleb. They treated me like an animal, hurling insults and threats as they threw scraps of food onto the filthy floor of my cell. There were no plates or utensils; I was forced to eat like an animal, scavenging for sustenance among the filth and decay that surrounded me. Whenever I dared to speak up, to ask for water or some small comfort, they would respond with violence. They kicked and beat me without mercy. I soon learned to keep silent. It was the only way to survive in this hellish prison.

~~~~~

A week had passed. I could hear the distant sounds of laughter and celebration for the festival to welcome the prince. As I huddled in the darkness, barely able to summon the strength to lift my head, I heard the faint sound of footsteps outside. Summoning what little courage remained, I shuffled toward the heavy door and called out to the patrolling guard, my voice weak and trembling.

"Please," I called out weakly, "I'm hungry. I need food."

The guard's voice echoed through the heavy door. "Quiet, prisoner. You'll get your scraps when we deem fit."

Frustration boiled within me, and I lashed out recklessly. "You think you can keep me here forever? Caleb will release me soon, and then I'll be his mistress, living in luxury while you rot in this wretched place!"

The guard's laughter was like a slap in the face. "Alpha Caleb himself sent you here, fool. You think he cares about you?"

A desperate idea took root in my mind, and I clung to it like a lifeline. "You're wrong," I lied through gritted teeth. "Caleb will release me. I'm carrying his child."

For a moment, there was silence. Then, to my astonishment, the guard spoke again, his voice laced with uncertainty.

"If that's true..." he began, his words trailing off as he hesitated.

I seized the opportunity, my heart pounding in my chest as I pressed on. "Please, I need food. I need water," I pleaded. "And... and some alcohol, to disinfect my wounds. I fear they'll become worse if left untreated. Bandages too, so I can create a new dressing."

There was a long pause, during which I held my breath, hoping that the guard would show mercy. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the heavy door creaked open, revealing the silhouette of the guard standing in the dim light of the corridor.

He tossed a small loaf of bread and a jug of water into the cell, followed by a roll of bandages and a bottle of alcohol. "Don't think this means anything," he grunted. "You're still Caleb's prisoner, and you'll stay here until he says otherwise."

I nodded as I scrambled to gather the supplies. "Thank you," I whispered hoarsely, tears stinging my eyes. "Thank you for showing mercy."

The guard grunted in response before slamming the door shut once more, leaving me alone in the darkness. Without wasting time, I poured a small amount of alcohol onto a strip of cloth torn from my dress, wincing as the liquid stung against my raw flesh. The sharp scent of the alcohol filled the air, mingling with the musty odor of the dungeon. Gritting my teeth against the pain, I carefully dabbed at each wound, cleaning away the dirt and pus as best as I could.

Once the wounds were clean, I wrapped fresh bandages around them and secured them tightly. The makeshift dressing would have to suffice for now. As I finished tending to my wounds, I waited in tense silence, straining my ears for any sign of approaching footsteps. When the dungeon fell quiet once more, I knew it was time to send the signal to Juliet.

Taking a deep breath, I emitted a series of soft clicks and whistles, a secret sequence of sounds that only Juliet and I knew. It was our way of communicating without alerting anyone else to our presence. I repeated the signal several times, hoping that Juliet would hear and understand.

Minutes passed like hours as I waited anxiously for a response. Then, just as doubt began to creep in, I heard a faint rustling from the other side of the dungeon. My heart leaped with joy as I recognized Juliet's voice, whispering my name through the darkness.

"Alina," she called softly. "I'm here. Are you alright?"

"Juliet, thank the heavens you're here. I... I thought that I was alone."

"I will get you out of here, I promise," Juliet reassured me. "But we have to be careful. Caleb's guards are everywhere."

"I have a plan, but we need to wait for the right moment. I have a double key with me. I'll open the door, but we have to be quick and quiet."

"I understand. I'll do whatever it takes to escape from this wretched place."

"Good," Juliet replied. "Now, wait here for a minute. I'll signal you when it's safe to come out."

I held my breath as Juliet moved away from the door, her footsteps barely audible against the stone floor. Every second felt like an eternity as I waited in tense silence. Then, finally, I heard the faint sound of metal scraping against metal as Juliet worked the lock.

The heavy door swung open, revealing Juliet's silhouette bathed in the soft glow of moonlight. Without a word, I rushed forward, throwing my arms around her in a tight embrace.

"Thank you, Juliet," I whispered. "I don't know what I would do without you."

Juliet hugged me back. "We're not out of danger yet," she warned. "But together, we can make it through anything. Now, let's go."