Chapter 100: The Reckoning

Jeremy and I followed the guards in silence, our footsteps echoing off the cracked, grimy walls of the dimly lit hallway. The place was so neglected that it seemed almost otherworldly—ancient, perhaps haunted by the echoes of past occupants. I kept a tight grip on the rough fabric of my maid's gown, trying to ignore the unsettling thought that we might be walking past cells where unspeakable horrors had occurred. The thought of being led to our deaths made my stomach churn, and the fear was compounded by the stifling stench that seemed to cling to the very air. The tallest of the guards led the way, his heavy boots thudding rhythmically against the cold stone floor. I couldn’t bring myself to look back, terrified that doing so might provoke whatever sinister fate awaited us. I could sense Jeremy’s tension; he was walking just ahead of me, but I could feel the occasional anxious glance he cast over his shoulder. I understood his fear, as mine mirrored his. Even though the hallway was a