Trigger Warning: This chapter contains some violent scenes.

Elizabeth gasped as she felt herself being seized from behind. She struggled against her captor, but his grip was too powerful for her to break free. Her heart raced in her chest as she realized that he was dragging her towards the woods.

She tried to scream for help, hoping that someone would hear, but the monster had clamped a hand over her mouth tightly, preventing any sound from escaping.

For the first time in her life, Lizzy was terrified. The attacker seemed to be delighting in her fear, pulling her further and further into the forest's inky blackness. Once inside, he threw her onto the ground and grabbed hold of her wrists. Elizabeth could make out a length of rope lying nearby, accompanied by something that resembled a gag. She also noticed a carriage parked on the other side of the woods and a few figures moving around as if they were expecting something.

The young woman knew that she had to think quickly before the scoundrel could drag her toward the vehicle. She knew all too well that once she climbed inside, there would be no going back. Drawing strength from within herself, Elizabeth remained still and unmoving, sending a clear message: "I will not submit to your will". She felt the man's hands on her waist and hips, moving lower and lower, waiting for the perfect moment. When he leaned forward over her, she lashed out with a sharp kick into his groin, making him howl in pain and stumble backwards.

In a flash, Elizabeth grabbed a nearby rock and hurled it toward her assailant's head. She tried to escape, but he swiftly dodged the projectile and grasped her tightly. He struck her face before ripping the front of her dress and forcing her to the ground. Tears flowed down her cheeks as she desperately fought against him.

Suddenly, three figures emerged from the darkness: Charlotte Lucas, Elizabeth's best friend, and her maid, along with a footman who had accompanied them from Lucas Lodge.

Charlotte had followed Elizabeth after noticing that she'd forgotten her scarf and arrived just in time to witness the shadowy figure dragging Elizabeth into the woods. Without wasting another moment, Charlotte asked her servants to follow her as she rushed into the trees.

When they found Elizabeth and her attacker deep in the forest, Charlotte swiftly snatched up a hefty branch lying nearby. With all her might, she brought the weapon down upon the hooded figure. His face was only partially concealed, revealing a sinister smirk. As he fell to the ground, he heard something behind him and sprang back up again, fleeing toward his carriage while abandoning his knife on the ground. In that split second before he escaped, Charlotte noticed something peculiar about his left hand - an observation she tucked away in her memory.

Immediately, Charlotte rushed over to Elizabeth, who lay motionless with a damaged face and torn clothing. Dropping down beside her, she wept.

She covered Elizabeth with her cloak and asked her, in a trembling voice, if she were alright. Elizabeth opened her tired eyes and mumbled that Charlotte had saved her; then the two of them made their way back to Lucas Lodge.

Once they arrived, Mrs. Pierce was called in to help treat Elizabeth's wounds. Charlotte stayed close by her friend's side, squeezing her hand and trying to soothe her with kind words. As Mrs. Pierce was tending to Elizabeth, Charlotte couldn't shake a strange feeling about the attacker's left hand.

After providing Elizabeth with one of her own dresses and some comfort, Charlotte arranged for a carriage to take Elizabeth back home.

The next morning, Charlotte decided to return to the spot of the attack with her footman and maid in tow to see if any other evidence remained.

As Charlotte approached the woods, an ominous hunch overtook her. And yet, despite the risks presented by this investigation, she persevered in her mission to identify Elizabeth's attacker while protecting Lizzy's reputation. Upon reaching the site of their recent altercation, Charlotte noticed an unfamiliar knife still lying on the ground. Bending down for a closer look, she saw something unusual etched into its metal surface.