The sound of heavy boots echoed through the stone corridor, growing louder as it neared Aidi's cell. Her heart pounded in her chest as she shifted in the chair, straining against the ropes that kept her bound. The gag, still tied tightly around her mouth, made it hard to breathe, but she had no intention of showing weakness. Not now. Not when she was so close to breaking free.
The door swung open with a harsh metallic screech, and in stepped the tall, menacing figure of Hetri. His shadow stretched across the room like a predator, his eyes gleaming with cruel amusement.
"Well, well. You're still here, huh?" His voice was dripping with mockery as he surveyed her, his lips curling into that same, infuriating smile.
Aidi didn't respond. Her gaze remained fixed on him, unwavering despite the exhaustion she felt deep in her bones.
Hetri clicked his tongue, slowly circling her like a wolf inspecting its prey. "You're a stubborn one, aren't you?" He stopped in front of her, his eyes narrowing as he tilted his head. "But you should know, stubbornness doesn't get you anywhere. It only makes the pain last longer."
Aidi's chest tightened as he leaned in close. His presence was suffocating, his breath foul and hot against her skin. She fought the urge to recoil, knowing it would only amuse him.
"You know," Hetri continued, his voice softening as though he were speaking to an old friend, "I don't want to hurt you. Not at first. I just want to understand you. What drives you? Why are you so determined to resist me?"
Her eyes flickered toward the window, though she could barely see the lake through the bars. The serenity of the lake, once a place of peace, now seemed so far away, like another lifetime.
Her thoughts drifted back to the night everything changed—the night her life was torn apart.
---
It had been weeks since she had left the quiet life behind. Weeks since the shadows of the past caught up with her.
Aidi had always been close to her family. But that bond had shattered the moment Hetri had come into their lives. His charm was undeniable, and her father, eager to climb the ranks in the city's power structure, had welcomed him with open arms. At first, Aidi hadn't seen the danger. She had been too focused on her own life—on the things she wanted to achieve. But when she saw the coldness in Hetri's eyes, when she realized he was not a man to be trusted, it was already too late.
Her father had been bought, manipulated. Her mother had been silent, afraid to speak out against the man who now controlled their lives. Aidi had been the only one who fought back, and in doing so, she became a target.
The night they came for her—when the door to her house had been kicked in and her father had stood by, doing nothing—was when she realized there was no escaping her fate.
---
Aidi snapped back to the present, the memories still fresh in her mind. Hetri was standing right in front of her now, a twisted grin on his face.
"You're thinking about your family, aren't you?" he mused, his voice dripping with venom. "I imagine they're quite disappointed in you. You've failed them, you know. I'm the one who gave them everything. And now look where they are—trapped, just like you."
Her jaw clenched. "You're wrong," she managed to say through the gag, her voice muffled but strong.
Hetri chuckled darkly, clearly amused by her defiance. "Oh? Then why don't you tell me what's so wrong about my offer? I could free them. I could make it all go away, if you just… cooperate."
Aidi didn't flinch. The idea of betrayal—of giving in to him—made her sick. "I'll never bow to you."
His grin faded slightly, but the dangerous glint in his eyes only grew stronger. "We'll see about that." He snapped his fingers, and two guards stepped into the room, their faces expressionless.
"Take her to the interrogation room," Hetri ordered. "Maybe a little more... persuasion will make her see reason."
The guards moved forward, untying Aidi from the chair, and roughly hauling her to her feet. The ropes that had bound her wrists and ankles were gone now, but the pain lingered. Aidi resisted, forcing herself to stay calm despite the dread that coiled in her stomach.
As they led her down the cold corridor, she tried to focus on the one thing that had kept her going—her need for justice. She couldn't let them break her.
Not now.
Not ever.
---
The interrogation room was colder than the hallway, a stark, sterile space with only a single chair in the center. Aidi was forced into it, her arms yanked behind the chair, her body pressed against the backrest. She couldn't help but wince at the cold metal against her skin.
Hetri walked in, his footsteps deliberate, his expression cold.
"Let's see how far your resolve really goes," he said, his voice low and ominous.
Aidi refused to meet his gaze. She was determined not to give him the satisfaction of seeing her afraid. She had to stay strong.
But even as she told herself that, the doubts started to creep in. Would she break under the pressure? Would she fold like the others who had failed before her?
Only time would tell. But Aidi knew one thing for sure—she wouldn't go down without a fight.