Alpha King Chases Abandoned Luna novel Chapter 72

My voice broke as memories flooded back–Eleanor’s cruel smile as she’d shoved me into this very basement years ago, the scratching of tiny claws in the darkness, my own screams echoing off stone walls.

Chante 51 Stacka

“I didn’t do anything wrong” I cried, my composure shattering completely “Please, I’m innocent!”

Ethan’s face remained impassive, unmoved by my terror. “You need time to reflect on your mistakes,” he said coldly. “To understand what you’ve done wrong”

With a powerful shove, he pushed me through the doorway I stumbled on the top step, barely catching myself against the wall to avoid tumbling down the stairs.

Before I could turn around, the heavy door slammed shut behind me. The sound of the bolt sliding into place was like a death knell.

“Ethan!” I screamed, pounding my fists against the unyielding wood. Please! Don’t leave me here!”

Silence was my only answer

i pressed my ear against the door, straining to hear any sound from the other side. Nothing. He had walked away, leaving me trapped in my worst nightmare.

My breathing quickened, shallow gasps that did little to fill my lungs. The darkness pressed in around me, absolute and suffocating. I fumbled along the wall, desperately searching for a light switch.

My fingers found it, and I flipped it up and down frantically. Nothing happened. The power had been cut. Hope drained from me like blood from a wound. I slid down the wall until I was sitting on the top step, my knees drawn up to my chest, arms wrapped tightly around them.

“Help!” I screamed, knowing it was futile. “Please, someone help me!”

The thick walls absorbed my cries, swallowing them into nothingness. No one would hear me. No one would

come.

Panic rose in my throat, threatening to choke me. I forced myself to take deeper breaths, trying to slow my racing heart. It was just darkness, I told myself. Just a power outage. Nothing to be afraid of.

But the darkness wasn’t empty. It was alive with memories–Eleanor’s laughter as she’d locked me in here the first time, the taunts of the servants as they’d released rats into the basement, knowing my terror of them, “It’s not real,” I whispered, rocking back and forth. “There’s nothing here. Just darkness.”

But my body wouldn’t believe the reassurances my mind offered. Every nerve ending screamed danger, every muscle tensed for flight. Sweat beaded on my forehead despite the chill of the basement air.

I strained my ears, listening for any sound that might indicate I wasn’t alone. The silence was almost complete, broken only by my own ragged breathing and the distant hum of the house above.

Then–a faint rustling. Soft, almost imperceptible. But unmistakable to my heightened senses.

I wasn’t alone.

A whimper escaped my lips as I pressed myself harder against the wall, as if I could somehow melt into the stone. The rustling came again, closer this time, followed by a light scratching sound.