Chapter 128

Iris lay in the bed, the dim light casting eerie shadows on the walls, deepening the sense of isolation that had become her constant companion.

Her body, weakened by the confinement and the minimal rations she was given, felt heavy and unresponsive. The baby within her moved slightly, a faint reminder of life, but even that small comfort was overshadowed by the relentless despair gnawing at her soul.

The single hand that was free from the restraints rested limply by her side, a minor concession that allowed her some semblance of humanity in this hellish prison.

The other hand was tied securely to the bed frame, the rough rope biting into her skin whenever she tried to shift even slightly.

The door creaked open, a sound that usually signaled the arrival of her captors or the cold nurse, but this time, it was different.

Iris was only half aware of the intrusion, her exhaustion weighing down her eyelids as she drifted in and out of a restless sleep.

A figure moved silently into the ro