Chapter 3: In The North

Scarlett’s POV“Get up, bitch!” the bearded man snarled, and I forced myself to rise, refusing to show him my pain or fear. I locked my gaze with his, holding it with a silent defiance until he looked away, a flicker of irritation crossing his face.He yanked on the chain again, pulling me like I was no more than an animal. My body ached with each step, my feet stinging with numbness as they pressed against the icy ground. Weak and exhausted, I could barely keep up, but I forced myself to follow him.As we entered a large house, the sudden warmth hit me, bringing a temporary relief to my frozen skin. The interior was plain, almost crude, with sparse wooden furniture and dull tungsten lights casting an eerie glow over everything. There was no sense of comfort or taste here—just a harsh, lifeless atmosphere that matched the man who dragged me in.He tugged on the chains again, and as I stumbled forward, I glanced down, realizing that the chain itself was iron. Only the part wrapped around my wrists was silver, a detail designed to weaken and bind me, but not to harm him. It was intentional—everything about this nightmare was carefully, cruelly crafted.We reached a brightly lit room, and he shoved me to my knees, ripping the grimy blanket off my shoulders.