Lidiya Witchain - the forgotten bride

The Escape

Lidiya woke to the pale morning light filtering through the shattered mirror, the memory of the previous night heavy on her chest. The bloodstains from Zindane’s wounded hand had dried on the floor, a grim reminder of the violence lurking beneath the surface of her life. Her heart raced with the realization that she couldn't continue to live like this. Zindane had stripped away every semblance of peace, and now, she had to act before the madness consumed her completely.

Staring at the fractured glass, she clenched her fists. I can't let him win. I won’t let Oswen suffer like this, she vowed silently. Her only chance lay in seeking help from the palace. Though it was nearly impossible, pleading with the queen herself was her last hope. If anyone could stop Zindane, it would be someone with power and authority.

The decision burned inside her like a flame. She had to leave—tonight.

When night finally fell, Lidiya waited until the house was completely still. Zindane, as usual, was outside on the porch, lying back on a wooden bench. His figure bathed in the silver light of the moon, he looked eerily peaceful—like a sleeping child, innocent and serene. But Lidiya knew better. He wasn’t asleep. In fact, in all the days she had spent in this nightmare, she had never once seen Zindane sleep. The thought sent a shiver down her spine.

How could a man so calm, so outwardly composed, carry such evil inside him? she thought, her heart twisting in confusion and bitterness. There was something about him that didn’t fit the mold of a monster, and yet, he had become the architect of her suffering.

Without making a sound, Lidiya slipped through the back door, her steps light on the dirt path as she moved away from the house. Her pulse quickened, and every rustle of the wind felt like it might give her away. But she pressed on, her determination stronger than her fear.

She had arranged her escape carefully. Disguised as a man, she would join a group of merchants who passed through the village late at night, heading towards the city. The palace was far, but if she could reach it, if she could kneel before the queen and beg for justice, perhaps there was still hope.

By the time she reached the edge of the village, her heart was pounding. The merchants’ cart waited by the side of the road, the men huddled around a small fire, unaware of her approach. She adjusted the cloth over her head, tugging the collar of the men’s clothing higher to hide her face. Taking a deep breath, she stepped forward, blending into the shadows.

One of the merchants glanced her way. “You look a little young to be traveling with us, boy,” he said, his voice rough but not unkind.

Lidiya kept her head down, avoiding his gaze. “I’m just trying to reach the city. I’ll help however I can. Please, let me travel with you.”

The merchant shrugged, uninterested. “As long as you can keep up and don’t slow us down, you’re welcome to join. We leave at dawn.”

Lidiya nodded in silent gratitude and climbed into the cart, settling among the goods. As the cart rattled down the dirt road, she allowed herself to look back one last time at the house that had been her prison. Her heart ached as she thought of Oswen, his spirit bound in torment, and her mother-in-law, lost to madness.

Tears welled in her eyes, but she blinked them away. This is for you, Oswen, she thought. I’ll free you, no matter the cost.

As the village faded into the distance behind her, Lidiya’s resolve hardened. She was leaving behind everything she knew, risking her life to face the unknown, but she knew this was the only way to fight back against Zindane’s dark power. The palace was her destination, and with every mile, she felt the chains of her captivity loosen.

Yet even as the cart rolled on, Lidiya couldn’t shake the feeling that Zindane would not let her go so easily. She glanced up at the moonlit sky, her breath catching in her throat.

Somewhere in the distance, she could almost feel his eyes watching her, waiting for her next move.