CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED NINE – JOHN THE RESCUER

The dampness of the dungeon clung to Karina like a second skin, chilling her despite the fire that burned in her injured arm. Hours had bled into one another, measured only by the rhythmic dripping of water and the gnawing ache in her stomach. Despair had threatened to engulf her, but a flicker of hope, fueled by the image of John's face etched in worry, stubbornly refused to be extinguished. Then, a sound pierced the monotonous silence – a faint clinking of metal against stone. Karina jerked awake, her heart hammering against her ribs. Could it be…? The sound came again, closer this time, followed by the creak of the rusty dungeon door. A sliver of light sliced through the darkness, momentarily blinding Karina. A figure, shrouded in shadow, emerged. "Karina?" came a familiar voice, a hushed whisper filled with urgency. Tears welled up in her eyes, blurring her vision. "John?" she croaked, her voice thick with disuse. He stepped into the meager light, the concern etched on his f