Isabel’s POVMargot sat beside me. Her eyes were distant. Filled with memories that had been buried deep within her for too long. I could see the weight she carried. I knew that what she was about to share had shaped her entire existence. As she began to speak, her voice was quiet but steady.“I was born into what seemed like the perfect family,” Margot started, her gaze unfocused, as if she was seeing something far away. “My father, Houston Woods, was an officer in the military. A man of honor, respected by his peers. My mother was a politician—sharp, dedicated, always fighting for what she believed was right. And then there was my brother, my protector… He was a major in the army, following in our father’s footsteps.”There was a brief pause as her fingers fidgeted with the hem of her sleeve.“We were happy,” she said, almost to herself. “A family full of ambition, full of hope.” Her voice wavered. “But everything changed the day my uncle stepped into our lives.”Her words hung in
Isabel’s POV"I was tortured day after day in this hospital, Isabel. At first, I resisted, but that only made things worse. Eventually, the drugs got to me. I became numb, like a dol. Preparing for what they wanted me to be."Margot’s words clung to the air like a bitter fog, wrapping themselves around me. I tried to imagine her, once strong and vibrant. But now, she was crumbling under the weight of cruelty and betrayal. The thought of someone—let alone a family member—intentionally breaking a human soul like that made my stomach churn."But then," Margot continued, her voice wavering, "one day, the new nurse came. She was careless, didn’t follow protocol like the others. For the first time, I saw a crack in their perfect system of control."Her gaze shifted to me, searching my face for something—hope, maybe? Understanding? I wasn't sure what she saw. But I reached out, squeezing her hand.“You’re so brave, Margot. What they did to you—what they’re still doing—no one should have to
Emerson’s POVWhen I woke up, the pain in my head was blinding. The dull throb seemed to pulse through my entire body. I tried to focus, tried to remember what had happened. How long had I been out for? But my thoughts were interrupted by the sound of footsteps."Mr. Emerson, you're awake! How are you feeling?" The voice was concerned, almost panicked. A servant I barely recognized rushed over to help me sit up."I’m fine," I muttered, even though the ache in my skull suggested otherwise. "How long have I been unconscious?""Almost two weeks, sir. But I wasn’t the one taking care of you the first week.""Who was that?" I asked, my voice sharper than intended. The thought of anyone other than my close staff taking care of me made my skin crawl.The servant hesitated, his eyes darting nervously before answering, "It was Miss Isabel, but..." He trailed off, his expression uncertain, as if he feared saying more.A strange warmth spread through my chest. Isabel had been taking care of me
Isabel’s POVMargot stared at me with those wide, haunted eyes. Her usual mask of detachment was beginning to crack. Something about my words had gotten through. I could feel it. In a place like this, hope was elusive. A distant dream buried under fear and despair. But her life, I could tell, was never meant to be wasted in this cold, brutal place."You don’t belong here, Margot. You know that, right?" I said, trying to coax her past her doubts. "Your story isn’t over."She hesitated. Her lips trembled as if she wanted to speak but was still unsure whether to trust me or her fear. Her fingers absentmindedly twisted the fabric of her tattered dress."Are you familiar with the terrain?" I asked, my voice soft but insistent. We needed to think practically. I didn’t even know where we were. "If we’re going to escape, I need to know how to get out."Her eyes flickered with something—memory, or maybe fear. "I... I know some of it," she whispered. "Once, when I pretended to lose my mind, I r
Isabel’s POVSince the doctor’s terrifying words, the fear gnawed at me, relentless and suffocating. My only chance to avoid the guest was to speed up the escape plan with Margot. Every day we spent here was a day closer to the inevitable. We couldn’t wait much longer. The painkiller they'd given me worked. It numbed the throbbing pain in my head just enough for me to think clearly. To focus on the one thing keeping me sane—freedom.Since my headache, the new nurse had stopped slacking. Whether out of fear or guilt, she diligently came by with those pills every morning. Her hands were always cold, her face always emotionless, as she shoved those bitter pills into my mouth. But then, one day, an idea sparked in my mind—risky, but maybe it could work. When she approached with her usual bored expression, I clutched my head, feigning a more severe headache.As she put the pills in my mouth, I seized the opportunity. I bit down hard on her finger. “Ow!” She yelped in pain and slapped me a
Isabel’s POVMargot’s eyes widened. For a moment, she seemed at a loss for words. Then, slowly, she nodded. “I’ll do it,” she promised. Her voice was thick with emotion. “I swear I’ll do it, Isabel. But you’re not going to die anytime soon. We’re getting out of here.”I smiled weakly, but the truth hung heavy between us. We both knew the odds weren’t in our favor. Yet, for the first time in a long time, I felt a flicker of hope—however small it was.“Then it’s a deal,” I whispered.In the days that followed, something was off with Margot. I could feel it in the way she moved—sudden and secretive. She was always glancing over her shoulder like she was hiding something. The staff hadn’t been locking our door. Whenever the nurse came in, I feigned to be powerless and limp due to the drugs and my disease. And Margot kept up her crazy act. They thought it no longer necessary to lock us up in the room.For days now, Margot had been sneaking off. She vanished for short periods, then returne
Isabel’s POVMargot and I froze. We pressed our bodies tightly against a rough piece of jutted wall. The patrolman’s footsteps grew louder. I covered my mouth, feeling my heart race in my chest like it was trying to escape. My entire body tensed. Each thud of the man’s boots made it clear that we were moments from being caught. The darkness around us seemed to close in, amplifying every sound.Margot crouched beside me, clutching the sack of supplies she had so bravely gathered. She held her breath, eyes wide in the dim light.We both stared at the beam of the flashlight growing brighter as it neared. The patrolman was muttering something under his breath, his tone irritated.I squeezed my eyes shut, trying to will myself invisible as the flashlight swept perilously close to our hiding spot. Suddenly, the stillness of the night shattered.“CRACK!”A huge branch fell on the already-crumbling wall. The commotion startled a flock of birds nearby. They flew off in a noisy rush. The sound
Isabel’s POVThe cottage was eerily silent after the door slammed shut, leaving Margot and me frozen in fear. We huddled together, waiting for something—anything—to happen. My heart was pounding in my chest so loudly I feared it would give us away if anyone were out there. For what felt like an eternity, we remained like that, waiting. The wind howled outside, rattling the window panes.Slowly, I dared to open one eye, then the other. The door hadn’t moved. It must’ve been the wind. Relief washed over me, but my muscles still felt tense. My nerves were frayed beyond belief.“It’s... it’s just the wind,” I whispered shakily, my voice barely above a breath.Margot exhaled sharply. Her hands were trembling as she pushed herself upright. “I thought someone had come for us.” She glanced at the door again. Her eyes were wide with lingering fear.I nodded, swallowing the lump in my throat. “Me too.” My voice sounded distant. Like I was speaking through layers of fog. My body felt heavy.I wa
Isabel’s POV“Excuse me? Are you threatening me, Caleb?” My voice was sharp, tinged with disbelief. The words felt foreign coming out of my mouth, but his behavior left me no choice. Caleb stood there, his head hung low. As though the weight of my accusation had crushed him.He didn’t respond right away. His lips pressed into a thin line. Finally, he exhaled deeply, shaking his head. “No, Isabel. I wouldn’t threaten you.” His voice was low, almost broken. “But... I can’t pretend anymore.”“What are you talking about?” I asked cautiously, my heart beating faster.Caleb’s shoulders slumped, and he took a hesitant step toward me. “I’m jealous, okay?” His voice cracked on the last word. “I’m jealous of him, whoever he is. I thought... I thought I had a chance, Isa.”I stared at him, stunned. “What?”“When you divorced Emerson,” he began, his words tumbling out in a rush, “I thought—at least—I could stay by your side. Even if it was just as family. I told myself that was enough. But if yo
Isabel’s POVMy eyes widened as I studied the photo. Its edges were worn as though it had been handled countless times. I reached out instinctively, my fingers trembling as they brushed the air between us. "Where did you get this?" I demanded, my voice sharper than I intended.Caleb stepped back quickly, moving the photo away from me with a smooth, deliberate motion. His eyes met mine. For the first time, there was something unfamiliar in his gaze—something secretive. My stomach twisted. Was Caleb more involved in these conspiracies than I thought? Could I still trust him?“Caleb,” I said, my voice lowering as I stepped closer, “give it to me.”I tried to reach for the photo, which he now held high above his head. He was much taller than me, so I jumped to reach it. “Caleb! This is not a game. Give that photo to me, now! You have no idea what you’re doing,” I said through gritted teeth, my voice raising with each word.But Caleb shook his head. A sly smile played at the corners of h
Isabel’s POVI stared at Dr. Vargas, the words he had just spoken reverberating through my chest. My heart raced with a mix of confusion and dread. “Is Sebastian in danger?” My voice wavered as the question escaped my lips before I could stop it. The image of Elias flashed in my mind—him slipping away from my view, his enigmatic presence lingering just long enough to stir unease.Dr. Vargas nodded solemnly, a flicker of something unspoken in his gaze. “Yes, he is. But Sebastian’s not one to back down. He’ll find a way to get back at the traitors, no matter what. You shouldn’t be worrying about him right now.” His voice was steady, but his eyes searched my face for something I wasn’t sure I could give. “Focus on your own survival, Isabel. Take care of yourself.”His eyes were sharp, but there was a layer of weariness beneath them. He wasn’t just giving advice—he was issuing a warning. A warning that the path we were all walking was fraught with peril. What Dr. Vargas really meant wa
Isabel’s POVThe tension in the room was suffocating. Emerson’s sudden outburst had left both Caleb and me startled, and the air buzzed with unanswered questions.“Emerson,” Caleb said, his voice steady but laced with concern, “what’s going on? You’re acting like we’re in the middle of a war zone.”Emerson was already moving, grabbing my belongings with frantic urgency. “We don’t have time for questions, Caleb. We need to get Isabel out of here. Now.”“Emerson!” I snapped, forcing as much authority into my voice as I could muster. “Stop. You can’t just uproot me like this without explaining. What’s happening?”His jaw tightened, his eyes darting toward the window as if he expected danger to come crashing through at any moment. He sighed heavily, rubbing the back of his neck before finally meeting my gaze.“I saw a man,” he said, his voice low. “He was in the hallway earlier, wearing a coat with Alistair’s family badge embroidered on it.”My breath caught in my throat. “Alistair’s badge
Isabel’s POVI couldn’t shake the unease settling in my chest. Margot was giving out her contact information—was she being careless, or had she judged Caleb trustworthy? Did she know he was connected to me? It seemed unlikely, but Margot was sharp. Perhaps too sharp to let something like that slip by accident. Still, the possibility worried me. She’d suffered enough already, and the thought of her inadvertently drawing danger closer made my stomach twist.“Her name?” Caleb repeated, frowning slightly. He scratched his head, looking sheepish. “Well, uh… no. She didn’t tell me. Said she wanted to keep a sense of mystery.” His face lit up with a wry grin. “An interesting girl, though. Made me feel like I was the one being studied.”He chuckled, but there was a hint of doubt in his voice. Caleb was many things, but overly confident wasn’t one of them. He seemed to be replaying the encounter in his head, wondering if he’d done something wrong—or maybe if he hadn’t been charming enough.I
Isabel’s POVCaleb’s casual words sent a jolt through me. My heart raced, and I felt the blood drain from my face. A blind girl in the area—what were the chances? Could it be?I forced myself to act natural, masking my growing unease. "A blind girl?" I asked lightly. "What was she like?"He tilted his head, trying to recall. "She had this serene presence, you know? Like she’d figured something out about life the rest of us haven’t. She was wearing big sunglasses and a hat—kept her face pretty covered—but she had a radiant smile. Oh, and her voice… it was kind of unforgettable. Gentle but strong. She seemed so at peace."His words struck a chord deep inside me. It had to be her. Caleb was oblivious to my inner turmoil and continued, "Oh, wait, I think I have a picture.""A picture?" My voice cracked slightly, but Caleb didn’t notice."Yeah, it’s funny, actually. I took a selfie in the flower shop—don’t ask, I was bored—and she accidentally ended up in the background. That’s how I notic
Isabel’s POV"Doctor, you can't be serious. Surgery?" Emerson's voice cracked slightly as his gaze darted between me and Dr. Vargas. He looked more terrified than I had ever seen him. As though the word itself could unravel him.Dr. Vargas cleared his throat, his professional demeanor steady. “Surgery is one option, but only if the tumor progresses to a stage where it becomes necessary. For now, we focus on non-invasive methods and assess as we go.”Before Emerson could spiral any further, I placed a hand on his arm. “Emerson, stop. It’s not as dire as you’re making it out to be.”He turned to me, his eyes wide with disbelief. “Not dire? Isa, this is brain surgery we’re talking about!”I sighed, pulling his hand away from his temples where he had been rubbing in frustration. “Tumors often require removal. It’s standard, not catastrophic. I’m just preparing for all possibilities. That doesn’t mean you need to overreact.”Emerson looked at the report in his hand, his brow furrowed deeply
Isabel’s POVThe idea had planted itself in my mind and taken root: if I didn’t make it, at least parts of me could still be used to help the people I loved. My eyes, for example. Thinking I might be able to help Margot see again was a small consolation. But it gave me a sliver of peace amidst the chaos of everything else.Dr. Vargas noticed my hesitation as I stared at the clipboard in his hands. He set his pen down, folding his hands in front of him with a small, regretful smile.“I’m afraid not, Miss White.”Confusion flickered across my face. “What do you mean?”His gaze softened, as though he were breaking unwelcome news. “Sebastian specifically instructed me to reject any notions of… self-sacrifice on your part. He made it very clear.”The corners of my mouth twitched into a weak smile as I leaned back in the chair. My arm came up to cover my watery eyes. “Of course, he did. He’s always so thoughtful. Too thoughtful.”Guilt crept in, knotting my stomach. I couldn’t even do this
Isabel’s POV"Margot… She's gone blind? No, it can't be..." I whispered, the words tumbling out before I could stop them. My voice sounded small, fragile—unlike me. I sat frozen in the sterile chemo room. The faint hum of the IV machine was the only sound filling the silence.Dr. Vargas’s calm expression didn’t waver, but I could see the weight of his words reflected in the lines of his face. “I’m afraid it’s true.”It felt like a punch to my chest. Margot. Strong, fierce Margot. The woman who once shielded me when I couldn’t stand on my own. Gone blind. The thought sent my mind spinning. My body stiffened against the recliner’s cold leather. My pulse thudded in my ears. I could barely hear my own voice when I croaked out the next question.“Why? How? What… what happened to her?”Dr. Vargas shifted slightly, his demeanor remaining professional but gentler now. “When Sebastian and Margot escaped from the barracks, they ran into pursuers. The men didn’t recognize them, but they assume