BETSY

ir sharp against her skin as she quietly packed her bags and pulled

murmurs of insects and rats squirting, unawar

he weight of her decision sinking in. She had planned this escape for

as a marriage she never expected, one she had no choice but to accept. To a man s

vast as their influence, and their reputation, though shrouded in mystery, carried an un

village had gossiped about this marriage for days, but

dowy corners, of their dark history and iron-fisted rule, made her stomach twis

ervants who dared not speak his name aloud. Yet nobody had ever seen

very whisper, an enigma woven into the fabric of countl

g, eternally youthful. Some even said he fed on blood wh

one person to the next, each person adding their touch, further obscuring the truth. Was he trul

ould not deny that the weight of tradition, of

. They were not people you could defy. Her family had agreed

had no good memories here, only memories of hatred and despair, the kind that clung to her like

journey ahead: The little money she had managed

er fingers trembling as she held it. The map crumb

weight of bitter arguments and broken promises. The walls had witnessed it al

narrow hallway, careful not to disturb anyone, her

as never born here and that everything was all a fairyta

d, glancing back over her shoulder - At the house tha

lestone as she made her way to the narr

was waiting for her

og of the forest swallowing her whole. The

no idea, how she was going to get to the train park, she had never researched ho

e wasn't ready for the comforting words he offered. After the incident

er, keeping her away from the people who cared about her. Even Sam came by, hopi

aint sobs through the door, and it broke his heart knowing she was hurting so much and yet felt so alone. He knocked gently, but there

m understanding that there was n

Sam suggested quietly. She could h

the time she needed and wanting to hold

oice thick with emotion. "Bett" I know you can hear me"I