Suffering Part 6: No Longer

Chapter 52

The cold stone floor beneath you did little to ease the soreness in your body, but you forced yourself to sit up, your mind already calculating. The tray of food still sat untouched, but eating was the last thing on your mind. You had one goal now—getting outside. Away from these suffocating walls, away from his control. You had to try again.

When the door creaked open again, and Evan appeared, that familiar smugness on his face, you steeled yourself. He crossed the room, his eyes scanning you with that unsettling mix of possessiveness and amusement.

"Did you eat?" he asked, his voice deceptively calm.

You ignored the question, swallowing the bitterness rising in your throat. "Take me outside."

He raised an eyebrow, amused. "No. Not today."

You clenched your hands, fighting back the immediate urge to argue. Instead, you forced a calmness into your voice. "I thought you wanted to make up for what you did." You met his gaze, trying to keep the desperation from showing. "If that's true, take me to the lake."

For a moment, Evan's expression faltered, the amusement flickering into something more calculating. His eyes narrowed slightly as if weighing your words, but his lips twisted into a smile. "You think that's going to work on me? Manipulating me?"

You swallowed hard, keeping your voice steady. "I'm not manipulating you. I just—" You hesitated, knowing you had to tread carefully. "I thought you wanted to make things right. Isn't that what you said? If you really mean it, then show me. Take me to the lake."

He studied you for a long moment, his gaze sharp and assessing. The tension in the room thickened as you waited, your heart pounding in your chest. You could feel your hands trembling, but you willed them to stay still.

Finally, Evan exhaled, his shoulders relaxing just a fraction. "You're persistent. I'll give you that."

Hope flickered inside you, but you kept your face neutral. You couldn't let him see how much this meant to you.

He took a step closer, crouching down in front of you. His hand reached out, brushing a strand of hair away from your face with a touch that made your skin crawl. "Alright," he said slowly, his voice low. "But if you try anything—if you so much as think about disobeying me—it will be the last time you see the lake. Understand?"

You nodded, holding his gaze. "I understand."

Evan straightened up, his smile widening. "Good. Let's go then."

He reached down, grabbing the leash attached to the collar around your neck, giving it a sharp tug to pull you to your feet. You followed him, your body tense but your mind focused. The lake—if you could just get to the water, maybe you could use your magic. Maybe, just maybe, you'd find a way out.

As you walked through the winding corridors of the castle, the weight of the collar and leash around your neck reminded you of the chains you still couldn't escape. But the promise of fresh air, of seeing the sky again, kept you moving forward. You couldn't afford to lose hope. Not yet.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, you stepped outside. The cool breeze hit your skin, and for the first time in what felt like days, you breathed deeply, savoring the crisp air. Your eyes scanned the area until you spotted it—the lake. Shimmering in the distance, calling to you.

Evan's grip on the leash tightened, his voice cutting through your thoughts. "Remember, behave."

As you approach the lake, every step makes the pull of the water stronger, your magic humming beneath your skin like a force awakening. The closer you get, the more you feel it building inside you, like a current running through your veins, growing more powerful with each breath. It's like the lake itself is calling to you, feeding your energy, bringing you back to life after days of being powerless.