Enchanted By Shadow

Prologue

Five Years Ago

**Sasha**

My heart races as I run for my life through the forest. I don’t know where I’m going, but I know I need to escape to stay alive. The ground is wet and slippery, making it hard to keep my balance. My sneakers are falling apart, and my knees are bleeding from the falls.

Behind me, I can hear the men chasing me. They’re not just any men; they belong to the Don. They are his pets, just like I used to be. I followed his orders without question, but not anymore. I won’t let myself be trapped again.

The trees stretch endlessly around me, their branches reaching out like hands. My lungs feel like they’re on fire, burning with every gasping breath. I can’t stop now. I have to keep running. My life depends on it.

As I push forward, memories flash in my mind—dark moments when I felt powerless, the weight of the Don’s control heavy on my shoulders. But now, I’m determined to break free. I will not go back.

Now you might wonder what my relationship is with him and his men. The truth is, I am his pet. I was rescued from my miseries, but back then, I had no idea I was just digging my own grave. Now that grave feels impossibly deep, but somehow, I’ve managed to climb out and run. It’s just me and my faith that can save me now.

I work for the Snake Gang, a notorious organization with a presence in every corner of the world. It’s the most powerful gang in England, and I hold a unique position as the Don’s assassin—the killing machine and the only female member in his ranks. I thought I had found power and freedom, but I quickly learned that I was still trapped in a different way. Each job I took only chained me further, binding me to a life of violence and fear.

But today, I refuse to be a pawn any longer. As I sprint through the trees, I feel the weight of my past pushing down on me, but I won’t let it crush me. I will break free from this life, no matter what it takes.

Those men are chasing me, and I can see the end of the road approaching quickly. I can’t turn back or look at what’s behind me. As I run, I realize I’m nearing a cliff, with the deep ocean below. I have to act fast; if I don’t, they’ll catch me.

The only escape is to jump into the water. My body is giving up, and I feel like I can’t go on. I hear their voices—about ten men, ready to take me in their own way. But I won’t let them. It’s better to jump than to be caught.

I leap off the edge, and the splash of the water hits my ears. As I plunge into the depths, it feels like I’m drowning. My limbs are exhausted from fighting against the water, and I struggle to breathe. But in that moment, I wonder: why fight at all?

Is this how I imagined my life after gaining my freedom? No. I dreamed of living like a normal person, having a home, a family, kids, and good food. But now, those dreams crumble like my unfortunate fate.

I can hear the faint voices of the men as they try to locate my body, but thank God, they won’t find me. It feels as if I’m losing myself in the depths of the water.

Soon, my eyelids grow heavy, and I struggle to breathe. The weight of exhaustion pulls me down, and I know I can’t hold on much longer.

If only someone could rescue me. The thought flickers through my mind like a distant light. I long for a hand to reach out, to pull me from this darkness. But as I sink deeper, the hope fades, replaced by the cold embrace of the water. All I can do is surrender to the depths, wishing for salvation that may never come.