The voice, deep and menacing, sent a shiver down Li Mei's spine. She felt the blood drain from her face. Trapped.
Slowly, she turned, her eyes adjusting to the darkness. A figure materialized from the shadows, a tall, broad-shouldered man with a stern expression. It was Zhao Fei, Li Wei's most trusted lieutenant.
"Where do you think you're going?" he asked, his voice a low growl.
Li Mei's heart hammered in her chest. She opened her mouth to speak, but no words came out.
Zhao Fei stepped closer, his eyes piercing through the dim light. "The General has plans for you," he said, his voice laced with a cruel amusement. "You're not going anywhere."
Zhao Fei's grip tightened, his fingers digging into her flesh. "You're causing unnecessary trouble," he hissed, pulling her back towards the tent. Li Mei stumbled, her bare feet slipping on the loose gravel. She cast a desperate glance towards the mountains, now a cruel mirage on the horizon.
He shoved her back into the lavish tent, the heavy canvas flap closing with a thud, sealing her fate once again. The darkness enveloped her, a suffocating shroud mirroring the despair that threatened to consume her.
She sank to the floor, her legs giving way beneath her. The opulent surroundings mocked her, the soft cushions a stark contrast to the harsh reality of her captivity. Tears welled up in her eyes, blurring her vision.
A wave of nausea swept over her. She retched, her stomach empty but for the bile that rose in her throat. The violation she had endured moments earlier felt like a physical stain, clinging to her skin, her hair, her very being.
She rocked back and forth, her arms wrapped tightly around her knees. The silence of the tent was deafening, broken only by the ragged sound of her own breathing.
Her thoughts spiraled, a chaotic dance of fear, anger, and self-loathing. Had she been foolish to believe she could escape? Had her defiance only brought more suffering upon herself?
But beneath the despair, an ember of defiance still glowed. She would not let them break her. She would not become the trophy Li Wei desired. She would find a way to survive, to resist, to reclaim her dignity.
Slowly, Li Mei rose to her feet. Her legs trembled, but she forced herself to stand tall. She would not cower in the corner like a frightened animal. She would meet Li Wei's gaze with her own, and he would see not a broken captive, but a woman who refused to be subjugated.
She moved to the edge of the plush bed and sat down, her fingers tracing the intricate patterns embroidered on the silk coverlet. Her mind raced, searching for a way out, a glimmer of hope in this suffocating darkness.
Perhaps, she thought, when Li Wei returns, there will be a moment of distraction, a chance to seize control. She would not only escape for herself but also find a way to rescue Xiao Chun. Her friend's face, etched with pain and exhaustion, haunted her thoughts. She would not abandon her.
Li Mei's resolve hardened. She would wait, she would watch, and when the opportunity arose, she would strike. She was trapped in the lion's den, but she was not yet defeated.
Time stretched on, each moment a agonizing eternity. The air in the tent grew heavy, thick with Li Mei's apprehension. The distant sounds of the camp, the murmurs of soldiers, the clink of armor, all served to remind her of her precarious position.
She rose from the bed, her bare feet padding softly on the thick carpet. Every sound seemed amplified in the confined space, every shadow a potential threat. She paced the length of the tent, her fingers tracing the intricate patterns on the silk hangings, her mind a whirlwind of possibilities.
Suddenly, the flap of the tent was thrown open, flooding the space with light. Li Wei stood framed in the entrance, his silhouette dark against the setting sun. He surveyed the scene, his gaze settling on Li Mei. A predatory smile curved his lips.
"Ah, my defiant captive," he drawled, his voice smooth as silk, yet edged with a hint of steel. "I see you've made yourself comfortable."
Li Mei's heart hammered in her chest, but she met his gaze unflinchingly. "This is not my home," she said, her voice surprisingly steady. "And I will never be yours."
Li Wei chuckled, a low, rumbling sound that sent chills down her spine. "We shall see about that," he said, stepping into the tent. The flap fell closed behind him, plunging them back into semi-darkness.
He moved towards her, his steps deliberate, his presence filling the space. Li Mei held her ground, her chin raised, her eyes locked with his. She would not show fear, not this time.
"You're a feisty one," Li Wei observed, stopping a few paces away. "I admire that."
His words were a mockery, but Li Mei refused to let them wound her. "I will not be broken," she said, her voice firm.
Li Wei's smile widened. "Perhaps not," he conceded. "But you will bend." He reached out, his fingers trailing lightly down her arm. Li Mei flinched, her skin crawling at his touch.
"You are mine now," he whispered, his voice a caress against her ear. "And I will have you."
Li Mei's breath hitched. She knew what he meant, the unspoken threat hanging heavy in the air. But she would not give him the satisfaction of seeing her fear.
She met his gaze, her own eyes blazing with defiance. "You will never have me," she said, her voice a fierce whisper. "Not my body, not my mind, not my soul."
Li Wei's smile faltered. For a moment, a flicker of something akin to surprise crossed his features. Then, it was gone, replaced by a mask of cold determination.
"We shall see," he said, his voice low and dangerous. "We shall see."
Li Mei stared at Li Wei, terror coursing through her veins. He loomed over her, his smile cruel and predatory. In a flash, his hands were on her, gripping her arms with bruising force. She struggled, but his strength was overwhelming. His fingers dug into her soft flesh as he yanked her body against his.
With a vicious tug, he ripped her silk robe, the delicate fabric shredding like paper. Buttons popped and seams split. The ruined garment fluttered to the floor, leaving her exposed and vulnerable. Li Mei instinctively tried to cover herself, but Li Wei grabbed her wrists, pinning her arms at her sides.
"Look at you," he purred, his gaze raking over her naked body. "Such a prize."
Li Mei shivered as the cool air kissed her bare skin. Shame and anger burned within her, but she refused to cower. She met his stare with defiant eyes, even as her heart pounded wildly.
Li Wei's lips curled into a smirk. "Now, my little dove, you have a choice. Lay with me tonight, right here, with no fuss. Or..." He leaned in close, his hot breath tickling her ear. "I'll take what I want anyway, as many times as I want, until dawn."
Nausea churned in Li Mei's stomach at the thought. To willingly subject herself to this monster's embrace, or to have him force himself upon her relentlessly - it was an impossible choice.
Tears pricked at her eyes, but she blinked them back. She would not give him the satisfaction of seeing her weep. Drawing in a shaky breath, she slowly lowered herself onto the bed, the silk sheets cold against her bare back.
"Good girl," Li Wei purred, releasing her wrists. His eyes glinted with triumph as he shed his own robe, revealing his muscular form. Li Mei kept her gaze fixed on the ceiling, trying to distance her mind from what was to come.
The bed dipped as Li Wei stretched out beside her, his skin searing against hers. She flinched as his hand skimmed down her side, his touch both unwanted and invasive.
"Remember, pet, fight me, and I'll make this so much worse for you." His voice was a dark promise in her ear.
Li Mei swallowed hard, forcing her body to remain still despite every instinct screaming at her to flee. She would endure this, clinging to the faint hope that tomorrow might bring a chance for escape. For now, she was trapped in this nightmarish embrace, the price for her failed bid for freedom.
As Li Wei's hands began to explore her unwilling body, Li Mei closed her eyes, silent tears finally spilling down her cheeks. In the darkness behind her eyelids, she prayed for strength.