Chapter 101 Captured

Jane's frantic dash through the maze ended abruptly. A rough hand clamped over her mouth, stifling her scream. Panic surged through her, icy tendrils snaking down her spine. The scent of damp earth and freshly cut leaves filled her nostrils, momentarily overwhelmed by the sharp tang of leather. Through the haze of terror, she registered a flash of silver – a glint of a blade against the rising sun. Then, darkness. Jane awoke to a throbbing headache and the stale smell of mildew. Her head lolled back against a rough surface, her vision blurry. Disoriented, she tried to sit up, but a searing pain shot through her wrists. They were bound. Panic clawed at her throat. Where was she? What had happened? Memories flickered back – the hooded figure in the garden, the desperate chase, the stifling darkness. A guttural chuckle echoed through the dimly lit room. A tall figure emerged from the shadows, his face obscured by a wide-brimmed hat. He was clad in black from head to toe, the only spla