CHAPTER 50 HE WAS NEVER DEAD

Madison's eyes fluttered open, her vision blurred and her head pounding as she tried to orient herself. She found herself lying on a hard, uncomfortable surface, the room around her dimly lit and unfamiliar. As she blinked, the room began to come into focus, the shapes and shadows revealing themselves as she took in her surroundings. She was in a small room, the walls bare and the air stale, a single bed and chair the only furnishings in the space. Madison's heart sank as she realized the truth of her situation. She was tied to the bed, her hands and feet bound with rope as she lay helpless and alone in the basement. The realization sent a wave of panic through her, her eyes darting around the room as she searched for a means of escape. But there was none. The door was locked, the window too small and high for her to reach. She was trapped, her fate uncertain as she struggled against her bonds, the sound of her own breathing filling the room. "Help!" Madison screamed, her voice