The last three days had been hell for Juliette, but nothing compared to the helplessness she felt in this moment. Desperation clawed at her throat as she pleaded with the man looming over her.
"Please... why are you doing this? I'm sorry for whatever I did, just don't hurt me..."
His grin widened, a cruel twist that made her stomach churn. Despite her empty belly, nausea threatened to overwhelm her.
"You haven't done anything, beautiful. It's just that I'm strong, and you're weak. Walking around alone like that without being a Chosen, you're practically asking for it."
With a sudden, violent motion, he punched the wall beside her, leaving a deep crack in the stone. The clear symbol of Drakar, a mark of power and dominance, was emblazoned on the back of his hand.
"Lord Drakar is truly generous. He lends anyone power if they have the coin—"
He chuckled darkly, stepping closer. Juliette's heart raced as she scrambled backward into the alleyway, realizing too late that it was a dead end.
"—No matter what I do with it. So be obedient, and I'll try to make it less painful for you."
His hand shot out, gripping her throat as he began to tear away her clothes.
Please, anyone. I don't care who. Please save me. Anyone...!
As the man ripped off her shirt, exposing her trembling body, the ground beneath him suddenly cracked open with a menacing rumble.
Before either of them could react, dark tendrils erupted from the fissure, wrapping around the man's limbs. He screamed in shock and pain as the shadows dragged him downward into the earth, swallowing him whole within seconds.
Dust settled back onto the cobblestones, leaving no trace of her attacker except for the crumpled clothing scattered about. Juliette stared wide-eyed, hardly daring to breathe.
A deep, echoing whisper seemed to emanate from everywhere and nowhere at once.
"All creatures fear my gaze..."
Juliette whirled around, searching for the source of the eerie voice, clutching what remained of her tattered top across her chest. Her heart pounded wildly in her chest.
"Wh-who said that?" she stammered, spinning frantically. "I-I know someone spoke! Please, show yourself!"
Her voice trembled, cracking under the weight of her fear. Tears streamed down her face as adrenaline coursed through her veins.
"The man attacked me! You saved me, right? Thank y-you..."
She fell silent, straining to hear even the slightest sound. After several long moments of tense quietude, Juliette slowly sank down to sit on the grimy stones, hugging herself tightly.
"If... if you won't show yourself, could you at least tell me who I owe for saving my life?"
Her words fell flatly between sniffled breaths. In the eerie silence of the shadowed alley, Juliette felt utterly small and vulnerable—both terrified and desperate for connection after nearly being violated.
"My name is Juliette..."
As she whispered her name into the darkness, she hoped that somehow, the shadows would respond.