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Chapter 1 – Escape
It was a dark, rainy night in the streets of Mumbai. Thunder roared above, lightning cut through the sky, and heavy raindrops splashed against the empty road.
Through the storm, the sound of frantic footsteps echoed.
A girl was running.
Her clothes were torn, her body covered in wounds. Tears blurred her vision as she stumbled forward, gasping for air. She had been running for so long that every breath burned her chest, yet she didn't dare stop.
She wanted to scream for help, but no words would come out. Her voice was broken, her throat dry from fear. When she saw people on the street, she tried to signal desperately with her trembling hands. But no one understood her… or perhaps, no one wanted to.
They glanced at her wounds, at the terror in her eyes, and then looked away. No one wanted to get involved. No one wanted to be part of something dangerous.
Her heart sank, but her legs kept moving. She had no choice—those chasing her were close, their footsteps echoing behind her. Panic shot through her veins as she pushed herself to run faster, though her heart pounded so violently she could barely breathe.
And then—
Blinding headlights cut through the rain. A car skidded to a stop in front of her on the highway.
The bright light struck her face, and in that moment, everything around her blurred. Memories crashed down on her like thunder.
A dark room.
The sting of a belt.
Men laughing cruelly.
A voice, cold and sharp, echoing in her head:
"You know how much I hate mistakes… and yet you made one. Now you must be punished."
Pain. Fear. Darkness.
Her body gave up. She collapsed in front of the car, her vision fading.
The car door opened. Two boys stepped out, their eyes wide as they rushed toward her.
And then—everything went black.
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