Chapter 5: A Gilded Cage
Lia stood frozen, her eyes locked on Maximo's piercing gaze. She felt like a small animal trapped in a predator's sights, her heart racing with fear.
Maximo's expression remained unreadable, his eyes never leaving hers. "You will be staying here with me," he said finally, his voice low and commanding.
Lia's mind reeled, her thoughts racing with questions. What did he mean? Why was she here?
But before she could ask, Maximo gestured to a door hidden behind a bookshelf. "Your room is through there. You will find everything you need."
Lia hesitated, unsure what to do. But as she glanced around the room, she realized she had no choice. The door was her only escape.
She took a deep breath and stepped through the doorway, finding herself in a luxurious bedroom. The bed was enormous, the sheets silk, and the furniture antique.
But as she approached the window, Lia realized she was trapped. The glass was reinforced, the frame locked, and the drop to the ground below was dizzying.
She felt a wave of despair wash over her, her heart sinking with the realization. She was a prisoner, locked in a gilded cage with no escape.
As she turned away from the window, Lia caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror. Her eyes were sunken, her skin pale, and her hair disheveled. She looked like a shadow of her former self.
But as she gazed deeper into her own eyes, Lia saw a spark of defiance. She would not be broken, she would not be tamed. She would find a way to escape, no matter what it took.
With newfound determination, Lia began to explore her prison. She searched for weaknesses, for any possible means of escape. And as she moved through the room, she felt a sense of purpose growing within her.
She would not be held captive forever. She would find a way to break free, to shatter the gilded cage that held her prisoner.