Chapter 1- Captive
Chapter 1: Captive
Southern Part of Russia, Year 20XX
A black car stopped at an abandoned house deep in the mountains. The rundown house was known as a haunted place, so people usually avoided it.
They said someone had heard a woman's voice echoing through the forest from neighboring houses, especially in the middle of the night. But because the house was fully gated, no one could see what was inside.
People were shocked to see an expensive car stopping to check the property and wondered if the visitor was there to purchase the land. It would be a relief if someone demolished the house and built a new one instead.
Unbeknownst to the townspeople, there was an underground basement in the house. Inside, a single bed was placed in the corner to accommodate a woman. On the bed, a tattered pillow and a soiled thick blanket were her only comfort against the cold. The living quarters were small; aside from the bed, there was a small toilet attached. The room itself smelled like rotten flesh, as air couldn't circulate properly without ventilation. The only entrance or exit was a single door with a thick lock attached from the outside—clearly to prevent escape.
In the far corner, Vera, locked in the basement for who knows how long, no longer cared about her living conditions. She was currently trying to steady her breathing. After bending her arm to examine her injuries, she cursed, realizing they were far worse than she expected.
Two nights ago, she had endured another round of scheduled torture. For what reason, she still didn't know. The people who abducted her seemed to want to see her surrender, to fall to her knees. It would be understandable, considering her background—yet they seemed unaware of it.
She suspected they were an amateur group, but given the efficiency with which they locked her up, she began to doubt their true intentions.
A sudden sharp pain in her arm forced Vera to refocus on nursing her wounds. It was hard, but she was used to it. It had been so many nights, days, and years since she had seen the light of day.
Vera knew she was far from Country A. This place was cold year-round, the complete opposite of the climate she once enjoyed.
In her home country, it was hot all year, with a bit of rain mid-year. God, she missed the heat. But now, more than anything, she wanted to escape and kill everyone who had made her suffer these past years.
Before her abduction, she was the epitome of wealth, beauty, and power. Everyone envied and feared her. After all, she commanded the largest underground network in Country A. But due to a single mistake, she had been caught and locked in this basement. Now, she wasn't even sure if she'd leave this place alive.
Given her physical condition, fighting this group in hand-to-hand combat would be nearly impossible. She needed to escape without confrontation. She just needed the right time—and the perfect opportunity.
She already had a plan. All she needed to do was wait. So, she closed her eyes again, tried to meditate, and focused on saving her energy to execute it well.