Chapter 11: Chapter 11

Chapter 11

Dusk painted the mountain in shadows .

Through sheer force of will , Elysia struggled along the muddy mountain path , dragging her battered body back to the cave entrance , now concealed beneath a thick canopy of branches and leaves .

Wish bloodied hands , she cleared away the camouflage , her injured leg protesting every movement .

Thank God , the fever’s broken ! ” Relief flooded her voice , instantly touching the viewers hearts .

She went still , listening intently to the mountain’s evening chorus – cicadas chirping , wild dogs barking , distant villagers muttering .

But no police search teams calling out

The livestream chat erupted with questions .

[ Search party already based before dark “ ]

n’t expect cops to search forever .

Blame Elysia for hiding them in the middle of nowhere

[ Can’t

[Get your facts straight .

My brother was on the search team , just asked him – Rowena straight – up lird , told them everyone was home safe .

How’s tut an Elysi

Had Rowena really lied to the police The thought left a hollow pit in Callan’s stomach

The projection shifted as night claimed the mountain .

The scene changed to reveal a familiar wood house , where a new horror awaited

took you so long ? Picking mushrooms doesn’t take all day .

The voice grew

“ Useless girir ” Lyra’s harsh voice cracked through the darkness , “ What en more menacing .

Trying to run away , you litle wretch ? ”

“ No ! Lyra , please ! ” Elysia’s plea was cut short as a twisted face filled d the screen wielding a thick branch .

The blows fell mercilessly

Odessa scrambled up the wall at the sounds of violence .

“ Stop ! Don’t hurt her ! Her voice cracked with desperation .

“ Elysia , run ! Hide ”

After several savage strikes , Elysia lay motionless on the ground .

A seven – year – old boy darted from the house , ignoring the fallen girl .

“ Mom , I’m starving ,” Echan Brook whined .

“ If you kill her , who’s gonna cook ? ”

Reason Dickered in Lyra’s eyes .

She dropped the branch , checking Elysia’s breathing with sudden care .

Finding her meal ticket still alive , her voier turned honey – sweet .

“ Darling , I was just worried .

You understand , don’t you ? ”

Elysia lay still , breath shallow .

As Lyra’s patience wore thin , the wondered if she’d gone too far .

Usually , a few hits didn’t leave the girl this lifeless .

Just as she moved to drag Elysia inside to check if she was faking , a faint “ mm ” escaped the girl’s lips .

Tunderstand .

Won’t happen … again .

” Each word cost Elysia precious energy .

Already wounded and exhausted from her mountain ordeal she’d barely made it back before dark , only to face another beating

Lyra’s snort cut through the air as her facade crumbled .

“ Go make dinner .

And don’t let me catch you sneaking peeks at Ethan’s books .

No reading .

got it ?”

( Listen to this monster ! I

[ Talk about split personality .

Classic kidnapper – that sweet act almost had me fooled )

Whatever .

Elysia’s grades sucked anyway .

She’s better off in the kitchen ]

Back in the studio , Caellan seized on this new revelation .

“ See that , Fenwick ” He turned to his brother excitedly .

“ She left me behind ! She really is heartless .

I wish Torin could see this ”

Rowena .

Elysia’s tragic past meant nothing to him .

Sure , she’d suffered – but in

Fenwick barely nodded , lost in thought about which flowers to bring Ro his mind , trauma could never justify hurting innocent people .

His jaw clenched as he thought of Rowena lying in a hospital bed while this criminal walked free under Stellan’s protection , probably living the high life .

The memory projection pulled everyone’s attention back to the past .

In the caule pen , where viewers gasped at the sight of Odessa chained by the ankle to a post .

She lunged toward Flysis the moment she entered .

“ Are you okay ? Where does it hurt Odessa’s voice dripped with worry .

Elysia stumbled onto a haystack , her loose clothing revealing freshly bleeding wounds that had barely scabbed over .

Odessa froze , tears welling up as she bit her lip .

Finally , she threw herself at Elysia , her voice breaking “ Who … who did this to your

A sad smile crossed Elysia’s face as she hugged Odessa .

“ No one hurt me .

I found two children today .

I took extra time hiding them so they wouldn’t end up like us ,

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Chapter 11

She omitted the part about being pushed down the slope , keeping her explanation simple .

This only made Odessa cry harder .

Here was someone younger than herself calling others “ children “ -wasn’t Elysia still a child herself , deserving protection !

“ I’m so sorry .

” Odessa sobbed .

“ Without me holding you back , you’d be free by now .

Why am I so useless ?”

Nine years of failed escapes weighed on her conscience every attempt thwarted by her weakness or fear .

And always , Elysia took the beatings

meant for her

י .

Now she’d become Elysia’s chain .

Lyra knew as long as Odessa remained locked up , Elysia would recum each day before dark , arms full of precious medicinal herbs .

That was why she allowed the girl some freedom

“ Don’t cry .

Odessa , I’m fine … ” Elysia managed before consciousness slipped away .

[ My

poor Elysia , you’re too good for this world .

I’d have been long gone .

]

[ Show some loyalty ! If Elysia ever abandoned our Odessa , she’d be dead to me .

[ Funny how Elysia neglects her real siblings but bends over backward for strangers .

Classic outsider syndrome .

]

[ Back off , haters ! You don’t know how she treats family .

Didn’t she save Torin before !

Fenwick’s eyes narrowed as he tracked the scrolling comments .

Far from changing his mind , they only reinforced his conviction .

In his eyes , the pattern was clear – Elysia’s devotion was calculatingly selective , showering Torin , Carlian , Stellan , and this Odessa with loyalty while treating him .

and Rowena with deliberate cruelty .

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