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A golden ticket

A Castle

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Sierra pov...

My heart pounded in my chest, each beat echoing the terror gripping my soul. Every step I took through the forest felt like I was sinking deeper into a nightmare, the cold air biting at my skin, chilling me to the bone. The wind howled around me, the trees casting eerie shadows that seemed to reach out, wanting to pull me back.

"Why me?" I whispered, my voice barely audible over the sound of my ragged breathing. But the night offered no answer, only the oppressive silence that seemed to close in on me.

I kept running, though I knew deep down there was no escape.

Few Days Earlier:

I woke up with a jolt, my breath catching as the remnants of a nightmare clung to me. My room was still dim, the early morning light just starting to peek through the window. My head throbbed, and my heart felt heavy, knowing what today meant. It was my eighteenth birthday, but there would be no joy in it. Not in this place.

This cursed town had always felt like a prison, and the people who lived here were like prisoners of fate. Every year, a young girl was taken by the beast—a monstrous wolf that demanded a virgin bride. The price for refusal was death, as the lifeless bodies found daily in the streets were grim reminders of the beast's fury.

For as long as I could remember, my mother had done everything she could to keep me hidden, to protect me from the beast's grasp. But I knew, just as she did, that time was running out. The beast would come, and no one could stop it.

I sat up in bed, staring blankly at the walls of my small room. Dreams of a normal life, of a family, of peace, seemed so far away now. They were just fantasies, flickering images that could never be real. Not here.

I forced myself to get up, trying to shake off the dread that had settled over me. When I looked in the mirror, I barely recognized myself. My skin was pale, my eyes wide with worry. I looked older than I was, worn down by the constant fear that had haunted me all my life.

After bathing, I dressed in a simple black gown. It seemed fitting, considering how I felt. As I moved around the room, my gaze fell on the doll from my childhood, lying on my bed. I picked it up, holding it close for a moment, remembering when things had felt safer—when my world hadn't been dominated by the fear of being chosen.

A sudden knock on the door made me jump. I hurried over and opened it to find my mother standing there with a plate of pancakes. Her soft voice filled the room as she sang me a quiet birthday song. It was a small comfort, a moment of warmth in an otherwise dark day.

"Thank you, Mom," I whispered, my throat tight with emotion as I hugged her.

She guided me to the bed, sitting beside me. "I know you want to go out, Sierra," she said gently, her voice tinged with sadness. "But I need you to understand why I'm doing this. I'm trying to protect you."

I met her gaze and saw the same fear reflected in her eyes. She had carried this burden for so long, trying to shield me from the inevitable. "It's not your fault, Mom," I said quietly. "Maybe one day, someone will defeat the beast, and we'll all be free."

Her smile was sad, filled with a kind of resignation, and she handed me the plate of pancakes. "Eat, my dear. I'll make more if you're still hungry."

As she stood to leave, I reached out, catching her hand. "Thank you, Mom," I repeated, my voice filled with gratitude. She smiled again, then left the room, closing the door softly behind her.

I ate slowly, savoring the pancakes, knowing they might be the last bit of comfort I'd have for a while. After finishing, I moved to the window and opened it slightly, watching the people below. Their faces were tight with fear, their conversations hushed. I knew they were talking about the beast. They always were.

I was lost in thought when I saw one of the men look up, locking eyes with me. Startled, I stepped back, my heart racing. I quickly shut the window, my body trembling. I didn't want to be seen, not by anyone. Not today.

I sat back on the bed, hugging my knees to my chest, trying to calm the panic rising inside me. The room suddenly felt too small, too cold. I longed for some kind of escape, but I knew there was none.

Just as I started to relax, a loud crash came from downstairs. My mother's voice followed, filled with desperation as she pleaded with someone. My blood turned to ice.

I jumped up, rushing to the door, but before I could reach it, a group of men burst into the room. Their cold eyes landed on me, and one of them spoke the words I had been dreading my entire life.

"Take her."

I fought against them, but it was no use. They were too strong. I screamed for my mother, but her cries were drowned out as they dragged me from the house. My body went limp as I realized there was no escape. This was it.

As they pulled me through the streets, the weight of my fate crushed me. I closed my eyes, letting the darkness swallow me whole.