Chapter 154

Cassandra's POV

A dull ache throbbed at the back of my head as consciousness slowly returned. My throat felt parched and sore, each breath a dry rasp. Opening my eyes, I was greeted by darkness and the clinking sound of metal against stone. As my vision adjusted, muted shapes began to form around me. Panic set in when I realised I was chained to a chair, cold and unforgiving against my skin.

My heart pounded erratically as I strained against the chains, but they held firm. Every movement sent jolts of pain through my bruised wrists. I desperately scanned the room, the dim light revealing only bare walls and a thick wooden door. The unmistakable scent of dampness and decay permeated the air.

*What is this place? Where am I? * Questions swam through my mind in rapid succession. I tried to recall how I ended up here, and flashes of memory returned—my confrontation with Adam, his grip on my throat, the encroaching darkness.

A muffled voice outside the door drew my attention. It grew l