CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND SIXTY ONE – LOOKING FOR A SAFE HAVEN

As the sun began to rise over the Sicilian countryside, Joan allowed herself a small smile. She knew the danger wasn't over. Scipione's threats still rang in her ears, and she had no doubt he would try to make good on them. Joan's lungs burned as she ran through the unfamiliar Sicilian countryside. The adrenaline that had fueled her escape was beginning to wear off, replaced by a bone-deep exhaustion and gnawing fear. She had no idea where she was or where she was going, but she knew she couldn't stop. As the sun climbed higher in the sky, Joan caught sight of a small town in the distance. Her heart raced with both hope and trepidation. It could be a chance for safety, but it could also be where Scipione's men would look for her first. Approaching the outskirts of the town, Joan spotted an old, dilapidated building set apart from the others. Its windows were boarded up, and weeds grew wild around its foundation. It looked long abandoned. "This will have to do," Joan muttered to her