The faint murmur of voices stirred Lilith from unconsciousness. Her eyelids fluttered open slowly, her vision blurred and her head pounding. As her eyes adjusted to the dim light. Panic jolted through her like a lightning strike.
She tried to move—only to find her wrists bound tightly in front of her with coarse rope. A thick cloth was tied around her mouth, muffling any sound. Her legs were bound as well, making it impossible to stand. Her breath quickened into shallow gasps as she realized she was lying on the cold ground, just beside the carriage she had willingly stepped into earlier.
Terror clawed at her throat as she forced herself upright into a sitting position. Her limbs trembled violently, every movement a struggle. She bent her head, her fingers trembling as she tried to rip the gag away with her teeth. The cloth was soaked with the taste of dust and something bitter. Her eyes burned with tears of fear and rage.
