Chapter 24
AVERY’S POV:
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my
throat burned
I lost all sense of time as I stumbled deeper into the endless expanse of woods, my body heavy with exhaustion. My muscles throbbed, with thirst, and my stomach churned, empty and relentless in its protest. Lightheaded from starvation and dehydration, I trudged forward, though each step felt like a battle I was losing.
The jagged sting of my untreated wounds showed my vulnerability; the thought of infection worried my sanity. My clothes hung in tatters, clinging to my bruised skin.
Now, under the shade of a towering oak, I collapsed, seeking reprieve from the unforgiving sun. Its light filtered through the canopy, harsh even in this supposed refuge. For the first time in days, I questioned why I was fighting at all. Maybe life wasn’t worth it anymore.
Freedom had once seemed like a promise–a bright, shining thing waiting for me outside those prison gates. But since stepping into the open air, all I’d found was war. One unrelenting battle after another. Did I deserve this? Was this karma for my sins?
My chest constricted as I thought of my family. Grandfather, gone. My father, reduced to a hollow shell because of me. I had destroyed them. I disappointed them. And Astrid? She remained untouched, the golden daughter–flawless, untainted. The one who’d always been good enough.
I exhaled shakily, adjusting myself against the rough bark of the oak. My eyes fluttered shut, though sleep felt more like surrender than solace. In the quiet, my thoughts drifted to Sea.
How was she? Was she safe? Could she possibly thrive under the care of a man like Axel? Or would his darkness swallow her whole? Would she grow up twisted and jaded, her innocence eroded by the shadows that surrounded her?
A tear slid down my cheek, tracing the lines of dirt and sweat already staining my skin.
The ache in my chest deepened, a cruel reminder of the chains I couldn’t see but still felt. For now, all I could do was sit here, broken and defeated, wondering how much more had left to give.
As soon as the thought of Axel crossed my mind, a jolt of urgency shot through me. I couldn’t stay rooted to this spot; he might already be on my trail. Pushing through the fatigue, I forced my body forward, step by agonizing step, as the blazing sun beat down on my battered skin.
Maybe death will find me soon, wrapping its cold, merciful hands around me, offering peace at last. The idea felt almost welcoming–until the universe, in its cruel humor, decided otherwise.
Far in the distance, I spotted something–a break in the endless wilderness. Houses. From where I stood, I could make out clearings leading to a road, and beyond that, a cluster of homes. My heart lifted, and with it, a surge of determination I thought had long since abandoned me.
I stumbled toward the road, every step a defiance against the pain and exhaustion dragging me down. Reaching the edge, I checked for traffic before crossing, my eyes scanning the homes on the other side. Each house seemed like a gamble–safety or danger, refuge or ruin. My heart thumped harder, not just from the effort but from the possibilities,
I approached a rundown house surrounded
tall, unkempt weeds. Its windows were smeared with grime, the paint on its porch chipped and peeling.It The other houses, well–maintained with manicured lawns, were too risky. People in homes like those were far
looked abandoned–a perfect hiding place anger couldn’t afford. Axel had eyes in places I couldn’t even imagine, and some of those eyes wore
more likely to call the police, and that was a badges.
Cautiously, I climbed the creaking stairs, avoiding the ones that looked too unstable. I hesitated, then knocked gently on the weathered door. Silence. That was a good sign. I knocked again, just to be sure, and the door creaked open.
“Oh, my,” a woman in her forties exclaimed, her cigarette–stained fingers gripping the edge of the door. Her eyes widened as they swept over me, and for a moment, I thought I saw recognition flicker there–or maybe it was just shock at my ruined appearance.
“Help me,” I whispered, my knees buckling as darkness threatened to swallow me whole. She moved quickly, tossing her cigarette and catching me before I hit the ground!
“Come on, sweetheart, let’s get you inside,” she said, half–carrying me to a couch that smelled faintly of smoke and spilled drinks. Her hands were steady,
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Chapter 24
her movements quick but gentle. Once I was settled, she turned off the TV in a rush, almost like she didn’t want me to see whatever she’d been watching.
Her apartment was a mess. Pizza boxes and empty cans were scattered across the floor, and the smell of cigarettes clung to everything. But I wasn’t in a position to judge. It was a roof.
“What happened to you?” she asked, her voice soft with concern. “You look like you’ve been through hell and back.”
I opened my mouth to answer, but my voice caught in my throat.
“Let’s get you cleaned up before anything else,” she said quickly, handing me a worn set of clothes. “Bathroom’s that way. Sorry, no hot water–you’ll have to make do with cold.”
“Thank you,” I managed, holding back the wave of emotions threatening to break me apart.
The bathroom wasn’t much better than the living room. Grimy tiles, rust–stained fixtures–it wasn’t pretty. Still, I stripped off my ruined clothes and stepped under the freezing stream of water. Every cut and bruise screamed in protest, but I grit my teeth and endured it.
When I was done, I dried off and slipped into the oversize gown she’d given me. It hung loosely on my frame, but it was clean, and that was more than I’d` had in days. I returned to the living room to find two slices of pizza and a glass of orange juice waiting on the coffee table.
“You need something in your stomach, child,” she said with warmth and pity.
Her kindness shattered something in me. Despite the state of her home and her life, she was offering more compassion to a stranger than my own family ever had. My throat tightened as I sat on the couch and devoured the pizza, tears stinging my eyes as the hot cheese,and crust filled the emptiness inside
- me.
“Thank you,” I murmured between bites, my gratitude raw and unfiltered.
“You’re welcome,” she replied, a soft smile tugging at her lips. “I’ll step out and make a call to order you some real food.”
“You don’t have to, ma’am. I’m already so grateful for what you’ve done,” I protested weakly.
“Nonsense. I won’t be long. You just rest, okay?”
Before I could say anything more, she was out the door, leaving me alone in the smoky, cluttered room.
Something about her sudden exit unsettled me. Why did she need to step outside to make a call about food? Was I inconveniencing her, or was there something more?
I sighed, leaning back against the couch. My body begged for rest, but my mind refused to let go of the unease settling in my chest. I told myself I’d stay for an hour or two, just enough to regain some strength. Then I’d leave.
I couldn’t stay in one place too long–not with Not even her. Prison taught me that, among
many
unknown forces hunting me. Axel, the police, or something worse. I couldn’t afford to trust anyone. other things.
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