The dense foliage rustled around me as I moved cautiously through the forest, my heart still pounding from the adrenaline of my escape. The moonlight filtered through the trees, casting eerie shadows that danced along the ground. I was determined to find a safe place, to make sense of what had happened and how to protect myself from further harm. But the sense of being watched persisted, a chilling reminder that I wasn't alone.
Just as I was beginning to believe that I had evaded my pursuers, a sudden movement in the shadows caught my attention. I whirled around, my breath catching in my throat. Eleri stepped into the clearing, her face illuminated by the moonlight. Her eyes were wild, a mixture of anger and desperation that sent a shiver down my spine.
"Seraphina," she said, her voice a twisted blend of sadness and rage. "You didn't really think you could get away from me, did you?"
I took a step back, my instincts screaming at me to run, but Eleri was too quick. She closed the distance between us in a few swift strides, her expression a mask of betrayal and madness. Before I could react, she grabbed my arm with a vice-like grip, her nails digging into my skin, sending sharp pangs of pain racing through me.
"Why, Seraphina?" Eleri demanded, her voice trembling with emotion. "Why would you try to escape? Did you not love me? Was everything we had together just a lie?"
I struggled against her hold, my mind racing to make sense of the situation. "Eleri, you're not thinking straight. I had to leave—I needed to get help. I don't understand why you're doing this. Why would you keep me locked up like this?"
Her grip tightened, and her eyes flared with a dangerous intensity, igniting a fire of fear deep within me. "You're trying to run away from me, Seraphina. From everything we had. I thought we were meant to be together. How could you betray me like this?"
I met her gaze, trying to steady my voice despite the tremors in my heart. "You're not making any sense. We had a life together, but you're pushing me away. Why are you doing this? What happened to you, Eleri? You weren't like this before."
Eleri's face twisted into a mask of pain, her voice rising in pitch. "I did everything for you! I brought you into my world, cared for you when no one else would. And now you throw it all away? You think you can just walk out of my life? You can't."
Before I could respond, Eleri's eyes darkened with cold fury. In a swift motion, she shoved me to the ground, her strength overwhelming me. I fought back, thrashing against her, but she easily restrained me. I felt the rough rope dig into my wrists as she bound me, my heart racing with a cocktail of fear and disbelief.
"What are you doing?" I cried out, panic surging through me like a tidal wave. "Stop this, Eleri! You're hurting me!"
Eleri's expression was a tumultuous storm of anguish and resolve as she secured me to the bed, her movements quick and calculated. "You don't understand, Seraphina. I'm doing this for your own good. I need you to see that we belong together. I won't let anyone come between us—not Dragonir, not anyone."
Her words pierced through the fog of fear, and my heart plummeted as I processed her meaning. Dragonir. She had plans for him too. The realization hit me like a punch to the gut. I was not just fighting for my life; I was now a pawn in a twisted game that revolved around the one person I cared about.
As she stepped back, her eyes bore into mine, filled with a manic intensity. "I thought we were meant to be together. Didn't you feel the same? All I've ever wanted was to keep you safe, to make sure you're with me."
I struggled against the ropes, tears of frustration and fear slipping down my cheeks. "Eleri, please, you're not making any sense. This isn't love. This is madness. I need to get out of here, and I need to help Dragonir."
Eleri's eyes darkened, her voice dropping to a chilling whisper. "If you think you can leave me, think again. Dragonir... I will make sure he suffers if you don't stay with me, if you don't prove that you truly care for me. You will both regret crossing me."
Her threat hung in the air like a noose tightening around my throat, and my heart raced in terror. "No, Eleri, don't do this. Please, don't hurt him. We can work this out. Just let me go."
A cruel smile twisted across Eleri's lips, revealing a side of her that felt alien and terrifying. "It's too late for that. You made your choice when you tried to run. Now you will stay with me until the end. I will make sure of it."
Her words echoed through the room as she turned on her heel, leaving me bound to the bed, my mind spiraling with the implications of her threats. The desperation in her voice, the madness in her eyes—it was all too much to process.
Lying there, helpless and scared, the reality of my situation began to settle heavily on my chest. Eleri was no longer the person I had known; she was a stranger, consumed by her own delusions and anger. I had to find a way out, to escape her grasp and protect those I cared about.
As I tried to steady my breathing, the weight of betrayal and fear pressed down like a suffocating blanket. The room felt like it was closing in around me, shadows creeping closer as I fought against my restraints. Each second dragged on like an eternity, and I could feel my panic rising like a tide threatening to pull me under.
Suddenly, a flicker of hope ignited within me. Eleri's departure had left the door slightly ajar—an opportunity. I began to wrestle against the ropes binding my wrists, the coarse fibers biting into my skin. I strained against the bed, twisting and turning, every movement laced with desperation.
Just then, I heard footsteps approaching, the crunch of leaves echoing ominously in the stillness. My heart raced, panic flooding my veins. I couldn't let Eleri see me like this. I needed to act fast.
With a final determined effort, I managed to loosen the ropes just enough to slip my hands free. My heart thundered in my chest as I cautiously sat up, scanning the dimly lit room for anything I could use to defend myself or escape. Eleri's voice echoed in my mind, a twisted melody of betrayal and obsession. I had to escape—there was no other option.
The door creaked open, and I barely managed to dodge back into the shadows, my breath hitching in my throat as Eleri stepped inside. "Seraphina?" she called, her voice laced with a mix of longing and fury. "Where are you?"
I pressed myself against the wall, my heart racing as I fought to quiet my breathing. Eleri moved deeper into the room, her eyes scanning the darkness, searching for me. My pulse quickened as I contemplated my next move. I couldn't let her catch me again; I had to get out.
As she turned her back to me, I seized the moment, darting toward the window. My heart pounded in my ears as I pried it open, the cool night air rushing in and enveloping me in a breath of freedom. I squeezed through, feeling the rough wood graze against my skin as I dropped silently into the foliage outside.
The forest welcomed me with its cold embrace, but I couldn't linger. I needed to put as much distance between Eleri and me as possible. The sounds of her frantic footsteps echoed behind me, propelling me into a sprint. Branches whipped against my skin, and the underbrush crunched beneath my feet, but I pressed on, fueled by sheer adrenaline.
Just as I was starting to gain ground, I heard her scream, raw and filled with despair. "You can't run from me, Seraphina! I will find you!"
The words sent a shiver down my spine, but I didn't stop. My heart raced, urging me to escape the nightmare that had unfolded. I raced through the woods, my breath coming in ragged gasps, a whirlwind of fear and determination propelling me forward.