Chapter Fifty seven

Anita’s POV

As the first rays of dawn filtered through the curtains of my small room, I blinked awake, momentarily disoriented. The soft light bathed the walls in a gentle, warm hue, a stark contrast to the cold dread that had settled in my chest the night before. I sat up slowly, my heart pounding with a strange mix of fear and confusion.

I was supposed to die today.

The thought hit me like a wave crashing over my head, pulling me under. My mind raced, trying to piece together the events of the past two weeks, the fear that had gripped me, and the acceptance that I had finally forced myself to embrace. The night before, I had lain awake, staring at the ceiling, waiting for the inevitable. I had prayed to the Moon Goddess, asked for forgiveness, and prepared myself to face whatever fate awaited me.

But now, in the pale light of the morning, I was still here. Still breathing. Still alive.

I threw off the covers and swung my legs over the side of the bed, my bare feet touching the cool