**Elena’s POV**

“What do you want from me, Lucia?”

I stared at her, standing there in the dim, flickering light of the basement. She looked perfect, not a hair out of place, her skin glowing, while I felt like I was falling apart.

My wrists were pulled behind my back, the rough rope biting into my skin until it burned. My shoulders were locked in an agonizing position, and every time I tried to shift against the cold, damp wall, a new wave of pain shot through my spine.

“I left ...