Chapter 81: Bound in Darkness

The woman stood frozen, unable to move, breathe, or think. The horrifying truth loomed before her, raw and undeniable. Was this pitiful creature, tortured and disfigured beyond recognition, her future? Was it the fate awaiting those who, like her, bore the same burden? She shut her eyes briefly, as though she could block out the grim reality that now confronted her. The cruelty of mankind—to inflict such suffering on another—brought tears to her eyes. This poor soul had endured unimaginable torment before his death. And she, with all her gifts and knowledge, had failed to unlock the secrets that could have spared others from the same fate. She forced herself to take a breath and look again. He had been alive when his assailants trapped him inside the coffin. The deep scratches on the wood showed his desperate attempt to escape, even managing to break a hole through it. A sob caught in her throat as she felt an inexplicable connection to the dead man, a kinship forged in suffering. Hi