my heart leapt in fear, and my stomach groaned, mixed with hunger and the pain I was going through. The house outside the bathroom went silent. Then, I heard footsteps, fast, heavy, and approaching the door. Maybe they had heard the crash. God! Fear gripped me, and I hurriedly tried to stand up, but my legs were still loosely tied to the chair. I fumbled with the knots, my wet, soapy fingers sliding over the coarse rope as my strength began to fade. My vision swam, the steam and the pain dragging me toward unconsciousness. I slumped back against the floor, breathing in short, sharp gasps. Maybe this is it, I thought, a time to give up. I have tried. I really tried. But then, a flicker of my mom's face crossed my mind. If I died here, she was going to be alone. If I gave up, Freya won. No, never. I can't let that happen at all! The thought acted like a jolt of electricity as I stretched again, and in a swift turn, I pulled the rope off my leg and tried to stand up a
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