Chapter 2: Into the Abyss
The icy wind whipped against Lucia’s face as her horse galloped through the dense forest. The ground blurred beneath her, but she didn’t dare slow down. Her mother’s last words echoed in her mind.
Marchioness Eleanor Sinclair / FL Mother
Run! Don’t look back!
Tears streaked her cheeks, but she clenched the reins tighter. Her home—her parents—everything she knew was gone. The flickering glow of flames in the distance was all that remained of the Sinclair estate.
Suddenly, a howl of voices rose behind her.
Masked Man: (yelling) Find her! She couldn’t have gone far!
Her heart seized. They were following her.
Lady Lucia Sinclair / FL
(frantic) No, no…
She kicked the horse harder, weaving through the trees, her vision blurred by fear. The forest grew denser, branches clawing at her gown. A low-hanging branch nearly struck her face, but she ducked just in time.
The ground beneath her vanished.
Her horse reared in panic, but it was too late. A sharp cry tore from her lips as the world tilted, and suddenly, she was falling—plunging into darkness.
Cold. Unforgiving. The river swallowed her whole.
At The Cliff’s Edge – Moments Later
The masked men on horseback skidded to a stop at the cliff’s edge, peering down into the raging river below.
Masked Man 1
(breathing heavily) She fell.
Masked Man 2
(grins) No one could survive that.
The moonlight barely illuminated the violent current sweeping away any trace of her. One of the men kicked a loose rock, watching it tumble down before disappearing into the black waters.
Masked Man 1
(nods) It’s over. Let’s go.
They turned their horses and disappeared into the trees, leaving only the sound of the river echoing into the night.
In A Small Cottage – Dawn
The crackling sound of a fire filled the tiny wooden cottage. The scent of herbs and damp earth lingered in the air.
An elderly woman sat beside a small bed, wringing out a cloth before pressing it gently to the forehead of the unconscious young woman lying before her.
Mrs.Turner
(softly) Poor child… she must have been through something terrible.
Her husband, Mr. Turner, stood near the window, his face lined with worry.
Mr.Turner
We found her just in time. The river nearly took her.
Mrs.Turner
(nods) But she hasn’t woken up. It’s been a whole night…
Mr. Turner sighed, stepping closer. The girl had bruises along her temple, and her gown—once elegant—was torn and covered in dried mud. Whoever she was, she wasn’t from the village.
Then, a faint noise. A soft groan.
The old woman leaned in as Lucia’s eyelids fluttered open. Confusion clouded her green eyes as she blinked at the unfamiliar ceiling.
Lady Lucia Sinclair / FL
(hoarse) Where…?
Mrs. Turner smiled gently, brushing damp strands of hair from Lucia’s forehead.
Mrs.Turner
You’re safe now, dear. You were found by the river. Do you remember what happened?
Lucia's lips parted, but no words came out. Her mind felt heavy, fragmented, like scattered pieces of a puzzle.
Lady Lucia Sinclair / FL
(whispers) I… I don’t know…
Her heart pounded as she struggled to grasp a single memory, but all she found was emptiness.
Lady Lucia Sinclair / FL
(panicked) I don’t know who I am…
Mrs. Turner exchanged a worried glance with her husband.
Mrs.Turner
(soothingly) It’s alright, my dear. You’ve been through an ordeal. You’re safe now. Rest.
Lucia clutched the blanket, her breath shaky. Safe? Then why did it feel like something—someone—was still chasing her in the shadows of her mind?
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