**LEILA**

I paced back and forth in the cold, dark cell, my mind racing with thoughts of escape. Antonio's betrayal still stung, his words echoing in my mind: "You're a prisoner, Leila. You'll never leave this place."


Suddenly, the door creaked open, and Antonio stood before me, a sly smile spreading across his face. "Well, well, well. Look what we have here. The little rebel, all locked up and helpless."

I glared at him, my anger and hatred burning brighter with every passing moment. "You'll pay for this, Antonio. Mark my words."

He chuckled, his eyes gleaming with amusement. "Oh, I'm shaking in my boots, Leila. But for now, I'll let you out of your cage. Just for a little while, of course."


He gestured to the door, and I hesitated, unsure of what to do. But the prospect of freedom, no matter how brief, was too enticing to resist. I stepped out of the cell, my eyes adjusting to the brightest light of the corridor.

But my freedom was short-lived. Antonio's men surrounded me, their grip like iron as they dragged me back to the dungeon. I struggled and kicked, but they were too strong.


Antonio's laughter echoed through the corridors as they threw me back into the darkness, the door clanging shut behind me. I was trapped once more, my hopes of escape crushed.

I slumped against the cold stone wall, my heart heavy with despair. But I refused to give up. I would find a way out, no matter what it took. And when I did, Antonio would pay dearly for his treachery.

I sat in the darkness, my mind racing with thoughts of escape and revenge. Days passed, or so I assumed, as the only light came from a small torch flickering in the corridor outside my cell. I heard the occasional sound of footsteps, the clanging of doors, and the muffled cries of other prisoners.

One day, the door creaked open, and a figure entered, carrying a tray of food and water. I devoured the meager rations, my hunger and thirst momentarily sated. As I looked up, I saw a glimmer of sympathy in the eyes of my gaoler.

"Please," I whispered, "help me. I don't belong here."

The gaoler hesitated, then spoke in a low tone, "I'll try, Leila. But be careful. Antonio has eyes and ears everywhere."

With that, the gaoler left, leaving me with a glimmer of hope. Maybe, just maybe, I had an ally in this forsaken place.

As the days passed, I noticed small acts of kindness from my gaoler – an extra piece of bread, a slightly larger portion of water, or a brief moment of conversation. I realized that my gaoler was secretly working to help me, and a plan began to form in my mind.

I would escape, and when I did, I would make sure Antonio paid for his treachery. The thought gave me the strength to keep going, to endure the darkness and the despair that threatened to consume me.

And so, I waited, my heart pounding with anticipation, for the perfect moment to strike back.

I stood in the darkness, my eyes adjusting slowly as the door creaked open. Antonio's figure loomed before me, his face a mask of calm control. "Time for your training, Leila," he said, his voice devoid of emotion.

I hesitated, unsure of what to expect, but Antonio's grip on my arm was unyielding. He dragged me out of the dungeon, into the bright sunlight, and across the courtyard to a training area. The sound of clashing steel and grunts of effort filled the air.

Antonio released my arm, and I rubbed the soreness, eyeing him warily. "You'll learn to fight, Leila. To defend yourself. And perhaps...just perhaps...you'll prove worthy of my trust."

I snorted, anger simmering beneath my surface. "I'll never be worthy of your trust. You've made that clear."

Antonio's expression remained unreadable, but his eyes flashed with a hint of amusement. "We'll see about that. Now, let's begin."

He handed me a sword, its weight unfamiliar in my hand. I gripped it tightly, determination coursing through me. I would learn to fight, to escape, and to bring Antonio down.

Our training session was a blur of sweat, pain, and frustration. Antonio was a merciless instructor, pushing me to my limits and beyond. But I refused to yield, my anger and resentment fueling my determination.

As the sun began to set, Antonio called a halt to our training. I stood panting, my muscles aching, but a spark of pride igniting within me. I had survived this far, and I would continue to fight.

Antonio's gaze lingered on me, his eyes narrowing as if searching for something. "You have potential, Leila. But don't think for a moment that this means you're free to go. You're still a prisoner, and you'll do as I say."

I glared at him, my defiance evident, but a small voice within me whispered: perhaps this training was a chance to bide my time, to wait for the perfect moment to strike back...

As the days passed, our training sessions continued, each one more grueling than the last. Antonio pushed me to my limits, testing my endurance, my strength, and my will. But I refused to break, fueled by my determination to escape and bring him down.

One day, as we sparred in the training area, I saw an opening – a moment of distraction, a fleeting lapse in Antonio's guard. I seized it, striking with all my might. Our swords clashed, the sound echoing through the courtyard, and for an instant, I thought I had him.

But Antonio was too skilled, too cunning. He parried my attack, his sword slicing through the air, and I found myself on the defensive once more. I stumbled back, my heart racing, as he advanced, his eyes gleaming with a sinister light.

And then, in a flash of insight, I understood. This was what he wanted – to break me, to mold me into a weapon he could control. I realized that my only hope lay in playing along, in pretending to submit, until the perfect moment to strike back.

I dropped my sword, my shoulders slumping in defeat, and Antonio's gaze narrowed, his expression unreadable. "You're not worthy yet, Leila," he said, his voice cold, detached. "But you will be. Oh, yes...you will be."

I knew then that I had to bide my time, to wait for the perfect moment to escape, to overthrow Antonio and shatter the chains that bound me. And so, I played the part of the obedient prisoner, all the while secretly plotting my revenge...

If they thought that they would kill my father and get away with it so easily, then they better have a rethink.