Chapter 1
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The silence in Litchfield camp was suffocating, heavy with the acrid scent of mourning and fear. The tragedy of Sunstone Village, a pyre carved into their hearts by Kubra's blades, still echoed in their minds. Piper, restless and guilt-gnawing at her soul, yearned to reach out, to reassure the other villages, to fan the embers of rebellion before they flickered out in despair.
"Hassan Village", she murmured, her voice echoing in the deserted council tent. Frieda, Litchfield people's wise elder, shook her head. "Too risky, child. They will be on high alert, Kubra's patrols doubled after their… display."
But Piper couldn't stay put. Fear, she knew, was a contagion more devastating than any Kubra's weapon. So, under the cloak of night, she gathered a small, trusted group: Gina, stoic and skilled; Lorna, Nicky Nichols's fiery lieutenant; Larry, a loyal shadow, and Nicky, whose defiance simmered just beneath the surface. Disguised as weary peasants, they crept out, embarking on their journey to Hassan's village. They needed to gather information on the Cartel, and at the same time, try their best to boost the morale of the people, after Kubra and his men caused such devastation in Sunstone. .
Hassan Village was a ghost town. Shops shuttered; faces hidden behind closed doors. The air thrummed with suspicion, a stark contrast to the usual bustling warmth. Each glance felt like an accusation, each muttered word a potential betrayal. They moved cautiously, Piper's stomach churning with every creak of a floorboard, every rustle of wind.
Then, she was alone. One moment she was beside Larry, the next, a sharp turn, a jostle in the crowd, and he was gone. Panic clawed at her throat, but she forced it down, remembering Frieda's words: "Stay inconspicuous, blend in."
She reached a well, its bucket dangling like a skeletal hand. Feigning thirst, she bent down, peering into the inky depths. A tremor vibrated through the ground, followed by a distant, muffled yell. Then another, closer, laced with terror. "The Cartel!"
Blood turned to ice in Piper's veins. The crowd around her dissolved, a wave of frantic movement leaving her stranded in the sudden silence. Her heart hammered against her ribs, each beat a frantic search call. Nicky! Where was Nicky?
Suddenly, a figure crashed into her, sending them both sprawling. It was Nicky, eyes wide with terror, face streaked with tears. "They're here, Piper! These monsters! They… they killed Gina!".
Grief stabbed at Piper, but there was no time for mourning. "Lorna, Blanca? Where are they?"
Nicky shook her head, her voice trembling. "Don't fucking know. We need to go now, Piper. Run!"
They plunged into the labyrinthine alleys, adrenaline burning in their veins. Screams echoed behind them, punctuated by the chilling clang of the Cartel's armor. Each turn felt like a dead end, each shadow a potential enemy.
Fear choked Piper, a bitter, metallic taste in her mouth. They had underestimated the Cartel, walked right into their trap. Where was Larry? Had he escaped? Or was he….
The thought was too much to bear. She forced it down, focusing on every pounding footstep, every ragged breath. Nicky tripped, scraping her knee, a curse escaping her lips. Piper grabbed her arm, hauling her up, fear twisting into a fierce protectiveness.
They burst out of the village, into the open fields. But there was no escape. Kubra's horsemen emerged from the darkness, their cruel laughter slicing through the night. They were surrounded.
Piper met Nicky's gaze, their terror mirrored in each other's eyes. This wasn't a strategic defeat, nor a noble sacrifice. This was a nightmare come true, their rebellion teetering on the brink of annihilation.
The Cartel closed in, their laughter morphing into bloodthirsty snarls. Dawn was breaking, painting the sky in hues of red and orange, an eerie reflection of the coming bloodshed. Hope, the flickering flame they had so desperately clung to, was extinguished, leaving only the cold, suffocating grip of dread. They were caught, their revolution wounded, their future shrouded in the chilling shadow of despair.
Their lungs burned, each gasp a desperate plea for air as they tore through the dense forest. Thorns ripped at their clothes, branches whipped their faces, but they didn't dare slow down. The rhythmic thunder of hooves pounded on the ground behind them, a relentless drumbeat of their impending doom. Guilt gnawed at Piper, a festering wound in her heart. She had dragged Nicky into this, and now, the weight of her best friend's life threatened to crush her.
"Piper!" Nicky choked out, stumbling over a gnarled root. "Where are we going?".
"Follow me!" Piper yelled back, her voice ragged. Larry's words echoed in her mind, a map laid out in desperation before they left. A treacherous path through the forest, leading to a hidden river passage, then a cave… a capsule. Dread coiled in her stomach.
Pushing through a thicket of bushes, they burst onto the banks of a churning river. The roar of the rapids masked their ragged breaths, but not the approaching hoofbeats. They were close. Nicky, gasping for air, pointed north. "Go, Piper! North from the river! They won't follow us there."
Piper's heart lurched. The north bank led back to the Litchfield's Sanctuary, but it would send Kubra's men directly into Litchfield's heart. She couldn't risk the lives of her people. She turned towards the river.
"There's another way," she rasped, formulating a desperate plan. "Through the cave, under the river."
Confusion washed over Nicky's face, chased quickly by suspicion. "Another way? What the fuck are you…".
Piper cut her off, urgency twisting her voice. "No time to explain. Trust me, just trust me!".
But Piper didn't mention the truth, the chilling weight of the secret nestled deep within the cave. The capsule was meant for only one passenger. It was designed this way in case enemies were following close-by they couldn't follow the person straight into Litchfield's heart. The choice she'd made was a silent vow etched in the desperation of her heart.
Ignoring the tremor in her voice, Piper urged Nicky closer. "Jump with me Nicky. Stay close, there's a current."
With a shared, unspoken understanding, they plunged into the freezing water, the sting momentarily forgotten in the face of the approaching Cartel members. Hana, leading the way, prayed memory wouldn't fail them. The darkness below beckoned, a chilling unknown promising either salvation or a watery grave. As the sounds of pursuit faded above, replaced by the gurgle of the river, Piper couldn't help but wonder: just what had she gotten them into?
The current tugged at them, swirling them downstream, the shouts of the Kubra's men echoing on the banks. Panic gnawed at Piper as they surfaced, their pursuers' silhouettes disappearing into the trees.
Darkness pressed in, the air thick with dampness. The cave passage narrowed, forcing them to crawl on their hands and knees. Piper, fueled by adrenaline and a desperate hope, pressed on, relying on Larry's whispered instructions. A turn, a drop, another tunnel… then, the capsule chamber.
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The murky water swirled around them, moonlight filtering through in fractured beams, illuminating a sight that ripped a gasp from Piper's throat. There, nestled against the rocky wall, gleamed the wooden capsule, hope in the mist of such oppressive darkness.
"Thank the heavens!" she choked out, relief flooding her chest as if a dam had burst.
"Fuck yeah!" Nicky's shriek of joy echoed through the cavern, its brightness a stark contrast to the icy fear gnawing at Piper's gut. The faint shouts of Kubra's men, closer now, sent shivers down her spine. They were already inside the cave, their pursuit relentless.
With a desperate lunge, they submerged themselves, surfacing beside the capsule. Nicky, her face illuminated by the faint moonlight, threw open the hatch, a wide smile splitting her face. "We made it, Piper! We fucking made it. We're going to leave these psychos behind."
The smile died on her lips as her eyes fell upon the single, narrow seat within. Confusion morphed into horror, her voice trembling. "What the... this - this is only for one."
Tears welled up in Piper's eyes, blurring the image of her Nicole's stricken face. "I know," she croaked, her voice rough with unshed tears. "But it will take you to the heart of Litchfield, to safety."
Nicky shook her head, denial hardening her voice. She jerked her hands away from the capsule, as if it had become a venomous object. "No, Piper. Are you fucking kidding me. We go together. You're the leader, they need you!"
"It's my fault we're here, Nicky! It was unwise and selfish to visit Hassan Village. Frieda warned me. Please, you have to go! You're the next in line, my second hand…".
"Don't you dare say that!" Nicky screamed, tears prickling her eyes. "Piper. We fight together, we die together!".
Their voices echoed in the cavern, laced with desperation and fear. The faint shouts of the Kubra's men grew louder, their chilling laughter sending tremors through the air.
Piper's voice cracked, the weight of responsibility crushing her. "You're like my sister. I can't just leave you here!" she pleaded, her voice raw with emotion.
Nicky shook her head. "Shut up this nonsense right now. We go together, Piper. You're the leader of this fucking revolution!" She repeated in disbelief, her eyes wild.
"Red trained me," Piper rasped, tears streaming down her face. "I can endure their torture. You cannot. Please, Nicky, for me. I couldn't live with myself…".
Nicky slapped her, the sound echoing like a gunshot in the confined space. "Are you out of your mind? They'll kill you, Piper!"
Piper brought a hand to her stinging cheek, closing her eyes. Panic choked Nicky's sobs, her fear a physical presence in the cramped space. Tears streamed down both their faces, mingling with the icy water dripping from their hair.
Eventually, Piper pulled her friend into a tight embrace, the scent of fear and desperation clinging to them both. She cupped Nicky's face, her touch gentle despite the tremors in her hands "You have to trust me Nicky," she whispered, her voice thick with love and despair. "Keep the fire alive. Promise me."
Nicky kept shaking her head, unable to process what was happening.
With a final, desperate shove, Piper propelled Nicky into the capsule. The hatch slammed shut, a metallic clang echoing in the deathly silence that followed. Nicky's muffled curses, her frantic pleas, were swallowed by the capsule's thick walls.
Piper watched it disappear into the darkness, a sob escaping her lips. The echoes of the Kubra's men voices filled the cavern now, their heavy footsteps drawing closer. She sank to her knees on the cold rock, the weight of her sacrifice crushing her.
Dread, cold and suffocating, consumed her. She had sent her best friend away, alone, while she faced Kubra's men, their cruelty etched into her nightmares. The air grew thick with anticipation, the silence broken only by the pounding of her terrified heart.
As the first Cartel member emerged from the shadows, his cruel smile illuminated by his torch, Piper knew this was not an escape, but a descent into a different kind of hell. And in the face of her impending doom, the only solace she found was the faint hope that flickered within the capsule, carrying her friend, Litchfield's flame, away from the encroaching darkness.
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The capsule splashed into the frigid water, ripping Nicky from the suffocating darkness. Disoriented, she fumbled with the hatch, icy fingers struggling against the metal. Finally, with a hiss, it gave way.
Gasping for air, she tumbled out, landing in the churning water. The current tugged at her, dragging her towards the city's heart. Shivering, she fought her way to the bank, collapsing onto the muddy shore. "Shit. Shit. Shit."
Two Litchfield soldiers, faces etched with concern, pulled her up. "Commander Nichols? Are you alright?".
"No!" she cried; her voice hoarse. "We have to go back! Piper… General Wirtz, they captured her!"
Panic flared in their eyes. "General Wirtz? Where?".
"Hassan Village! Kubra's men ambushed us. Fuck! Gina… they killed her!".
The news spread like wildfire. People rushed from their homes, faces pale with horror. Nicky's voice, ragged with urgency, echoed through the plaza. "For fuck's sake, we need to go back now! Save Piper!"
Soldiers scrambled, assembling horses in a flurry of panicked activity. Elder Frieda, her weathered face etched with concern, approached. "My child. What happened?"
"The Cartel!" Nicky choked out. "They… they took Piper. I escaped through a cave, but…"
Frieda's face turned grim; her gaze heavy with unspoken dread. "Nichols," she said softly, "how did you get here?"
"A capsule," Nicky explained, her voice trembling. "Piper… she… she put me in it. She stayed behind."
Frieda's silence was deafening. "The Cartel was on our tail," Nicky pleaded. "We have to go back for her!"
But Frieda's expression remained stoic. She turned to the soldiers, her voice firm. "Escort Commander Nichols to the secure quarters. She needs to rest."
"Rest?! We must rescue Piper! Are you out of your goddamned mind!?" Nicky shrieked, her defiance a desperate shield against the rising tide of grief. She reached out to the nearest villager that was holding a horse, in an attempt to grab it.
Frieda met her gaze, her eyes filled with a sorrow that mirrored Nicky's own. "There will be no rescue, Nichols," she said, her voice heavy with finality. "General Wirtz is gone." She used Piper's last name, along with the title that the people at Litchfield had given her since she had started the Revolution.
The world seemed to tilt on its axis. Nicky's scream died in her throat, replaced by a choking sob. Denial clawed at her, refusing to accept the harsh reality Frieda's words painted. Her legs gave up beneath her.
"No!" Nicky screamed, her voice cracking. "We need to go back!"
Frieda's eyes held a deep sadness. "We will avenge her, Nichols. But… it is too late.".
A collective gasp rippled through the crowd. The truth, unspoken but understood, hung heavy in the air. Piper was gone.
Frieda's hand, surprisingly gentle, settled on Nicky's shoulder. "She sacrificed herself, Nichols. So you could live. To lead the Revolution."
But Nicky's world had shattered. Her knees buckled, and she collapsed onto the cold stone. The weight of Frieda's words, the burden of leadership, pressed down on her like an immovable stone.
Frieda knelt beside her, her voice a low rumble. "You are General Nichols now. The fire of the Litchfield burns within you. Rise, child. Rise and lead us forward, even in the face of this darkness."
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Piper's eyelids fluttered open like heavy curtains being drawn against the morning sun. At first, her vision was a blur of shapes and shadows, the remnants of darkness clinging to her consciousness like a stubborn.
She struggled against the weight in her limbs, the dull ache that permeated every inch of her body.
As she slowly began to piece together her surroundings, fragments of memory pierced through the haze. The cold ground beneath her, the echoes of boots scraping against the floor, the searing pain pulsating from her forehead and lip. It was a familiar scene, one she had hoped never to revisit.
"Get up!" a gruff voice barked, the words cutting through the air like a whip. Two pairs of arms hoisted her up, their strength a sharp contrast to her own feeble attempts to resist. They dragged her through the room, each movement sending jolts of agony through her battered frame.
Thrown onto a chair, her arms bound behind her back, Piper's senses swam in a sea of disorientation. Chains clinked as they secured her ankles to the ground, the metal biting into her skin with a painful reminder of her captivity. Through squinted eyes, she struggled to focus on the figure before.
A tall woman, her presence commanding yet strangely comforting, stood at a distance. With a gesture, she offered water, a lifeline in the midst of despair.
"Here, drink," the woman said softly, holding the glass to Piper's parched lips.
Piper drank greedily, water spilling over her face in her haste. "Slow down," the woman's voice was gentle, a stark contrast to the brutality that surrounded them.
Another glass appeared, and this time, Piper drank more slowly, savoring each precious drop. "Thank you," she murmured, her voice hoarse with emotion.
The woman's gaze softened as she noticed the blood staining Piper's features. Without hesitation, she poured water over Piper's head and neck, washing away the traces of pain and fear.
"There," she said soothingly, "that's better."
Piper felt a wave of relief wash over her, a fleeting moment of respite in the midst of chaos. "Who are you?" she whispered, her voice barely audible above the clamor of the room.
"I'm Natalie," the woman replied, her tone gentle yet firm. "And you're in Dominion now."
The air in the room grew heavy with tension as Piper's eyes narrowed at Natalie, the woman who seemed to embody both authority and menace. Natalie, undeterred by Piper's glare, continued her self-indulgent monologue about the greatness of The Cartel.
"And you see, dear Piper," Natalie's voice carried a hint of smugness, "Dominion is the jewel in our crown. We conquered this city from a people who were ignorant, illiterate, poor, and weak. They knew nothing of progress, of civilization. But we, we brought order, prosperity, and strength."
Piper's fists clenched involuntarily at the mention of The Cartel's conquest. "Your policies are unfair. The people are-" she began, her voice tinged with defiance.
But before she could finish her sentence, Natalie cut her off with a dismissive gesture. "Bunny," she said condescendingly, "I haven't asked you to speak. I will do that in a moment, but not yet."
Piper shot daggers at Natalie, her frustration bubbling beneath the surface. She longed to lash out, to challenge the woman who held her captive, but she knew that defiance would only invite more punishment.
Natalie, seemingly oblivious to Piper's seething anger, continued her speech, extolling the virtues of The Cartel with an arrogance that made Piper's blood boil.
Meanwhile, one of the guards in the room slipped out silently, only to return moments later with a collection of battered cables and a menacing-looking battery. Piper's heart pounded in her chest as she recognized the instruments of torture.
Her breathing quickened as the guard connected the equipment, leaving the red and black ends of the cables near her boots. Panic surged through her veins as she remembered Red's training, the searing pain of electricity coursing through her body.
Instinctively, Piper tried to wriggle free from the ropes that bound her to the chair, but they held fast, trapping her in place.
Natalie turned around, her gaze locking onto Piper's with an unsettling intensity. She reached out and placed a hand on Piper's cheek, but Piper instinctively pulled away, the fear and revulsion evident in her eyes.
"What's the matter, Bunny?" Natalie asked, her tone almost playful as she sensed Piper's unease. "I've been talking for a while now. Perhaps you could share some things with me now, don't you think?"
Piper's mind raced as she searched for a way out, a glimmer of hope in the darkness that surrounded her. But as she stared into Natalie's cold, calculating eyes, she knew that any resistance would be met with swift and merciless punishment. And so, with a heavy heart and a sense of resignation, she prepared herself for what was to come.
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Piper braced herself as the woman approached with the cables, her heart pounding in her chest with a mixture of dread and defiance. She could feel the water dripping from her scalp all the way down to her boots, a chilling reminder of what was to come. She dreaded it, every moment leading up to this, but she knew she must endure.
With a steady hand, the woman grabbed the two cables, her expression unreadable as she drew closer to Piper's trembling form. She rattled the chair, her muscles tensed in anticipation, but her eyes burned with a fierce determination.
"Where is Litchfield's safe haven city?" the woman's voice was cold, demanding answers that Piper was not willing to give. She met the woman's gaze with unwavering defiance, refusing to break under the weight of her interrogation.
Silence hung heavy in the air, broken only by the sound of Piper's ragged breaths. The woman waited, her patience a thinly veiled threat. And then, without warning, she pressed the jumper leads into Piper's wet skin.
Piper bit back a scream as a violent current surged through her body, every nerve ending ablaze with agony. It felt as if she was being torn apart from the inside out, her world reduced to a symphony of pain and despair.
The woman held the cables against Piper for what felt like an eternity, her gaze unwavering as Piper's screams filled the remote room. And then, as suddenly as it had begun, the current ceased, leaving Piper gasping for air, her body trembling with shock.
But the woman was not finished. With a cruel smirk, she posed another question, her taunts like poison on the air. Piper remained silent, her defiance unyielding even in the face of unspeakable torment.
And so, the cycle repeated, each jolt of electricity tearing away a piece of Piper's resolve until she felt like nothing more than a shell of her former self. But still, she refused to break, her spirit unbroken amidst the darkness that threatened to consume her.
Natalie watched in silence as Piper's motionless frame slumped in the chair, her breath shallow and ragged. The room seemed to echo with the remnants of her screams, a haunting reminder of the torture she had endured.
Bitter anger tugged at Natalie's lips as she surveyed the scene before her. "This girl is good," she muttered to herself, her voice tinged with hate. She had expected an easier surrender from Piper, but it seemed that the girl had been trained well enough, much to Natalie's annoyance.
Turning to the guards, she issued her commands with a sense of finality. "Take her to the lowest part of the prison dungeon," she instructed, her tone cold and indifferent. "And make sure she's cared for."
The guards nodded in silent obedience, one moving to remove the chains from Piper's wrists and ankles while the other lifted her limp form from the chair with all the care of handling a ragdoll. Together, they made their way towards the farthest room downstairs, their footsteps echoing against the stone walls.
As they reached their destination, they deposited Piper on the bed with a brusque motion, leaving her lying there like a discarded puppet. Without a word, they turned and made their way back up the stairs, leaving Piper alone in the dimly lit room.
Moments later, the door creaked open to reveal two elderly maids, their faces lined with years of hardship and toil. They exchanged a glance as they took in the sight of Piper's battered and bruised form, their hearts heavy with pity.
Without hesitation, they set to work, gently removing Piper's soiled clothes, and tending to her wounds with a tender touch. They bathed her fevered brow, washed away the traces of blood and grime, and bandaged her bruises with care.
Throughout it all, Piper remained unconscious, her body limp and unresponsive to their ministrations. But the maids worked tirelessly, their hearts filled with compassion for the young woman who had suffered so greatly at the hands of their mistress.
And as the hours passed and dawn broke over the horizon, they continued their task with a sense of quiet determination, determined to bring a glimmer of comfort to Piper's tortured soul.
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Piper's eyelids fluttered open slowly, the harsh light of the room searing her senses as consciousness slowly returned. Blinking against the brightness, she took in her surroundings with a mixture of confusion and apprehension.
Natalie stood before her, her smug smile sending a shiver down Piper's spine.
Despite the pain and exhaustion that still gripped her body, Natalie seemed completely at ease, her presence unsettling in its calmness.
"You're awake," Natalie remarked casually, her tone betraying no hint of the torment she had subjected Piper to.
Piper's gaze narrowed, suspicion flickering in her eyes. "What do you want?" she demanded, her voice hoarse from screaming.
Natalie's smile widened, as if amused by Piper's defiance. "Oh, nothing much," she replied airily, as if they were discussing the weather. "Just thought we'd have a little chat, that's all."
Piper recoiled instinctively, pressing her back against the wall as if seeking refuge from the woman before her. But as her gaze flickered around the room, she realized with a jolt that she was not chained or tied, her limbs free to move as she pleased.
This realization only deepened her sense of unease, leaving her feeling exposed and vulnerable in the presence of her captor.
"Why am I not tied up?" Piper demanded, her eyes narrowing with suspicion.
Natalie approached with a tenderness that made Piper's skin crawl, her fingers reaching out to touch Piper's cheek in a gesture that made her blood run cold. With a swift motion, Piper slapped her hand away, a flash of defiance amidst the overwhelming fear that threatened to consume her.
Natalie merely chuckled, unfazed by Piper's reaction. "No need for restraints," she said smoothly. "You're not going anywhere."
Undeterred by Piper's defiance, Natalie continued as if they were having a casual conversation over tea. "You were very helpful yesterday, General Wirtz," she said, her smile widening at the confusion that flickered across Piper's face.
Piper's heart sank as she struggled to make sense of Natalie's words. "I didn't give you anything," she insisted, her voice trembling with defiance.
But Natalie merely shook her head, her smile never faltering. "Oh, but you did," she said, her tone dripping with false sincerity. "You gave us everything we needed."
Piper's eyes widened in disbelief, her mind racing as she searched for any sign that Natalie was bluffing.
Natalie's smile turned sinister as she leaned in close, her voice a whisper in the stillness of the room. "You told us about the location of the safe haven," she said, her words sending a chill down Piper's spine. "The one hidden deep in the mountains, where only you and your crew knew the way."
The blood drained from Piper's face as Natalie's words struck like a dagger to her heart. The revelation was not too specific, it could still be dismissed as mere coincidence. Piper was certain that Natalie would use anything in her arsenal to make her crack.
"You mentioned Gina, Frieda, and Larry," Natalie continued, her tone dripping with satisfaction. "You even told us how to access the safe haven".
Hana's breath caught in her throat, her mind reeling with disbelief. Had she really betrayed her friends, her comrades, without even realizing it?
As doubt crept into her mind, Piper felt the weight of Natalie's words settling upon her like a suffocating blanket. She wondered how much more she had revealed, what other secrets lay buried within the depths of her fractured memories.
"And you sang like a cute little canary," Natalie added with a smirk, relishing in Piper's torment.
And as Natalie stood and delivered her next cruel blow, informing Piper that she would be sent to the crop fields for the next season, Piper's world crumbled around her. "No," she whispered, her voice barely audible above the pounding of her heart.
But Natalie merely smiled, her eyes gleaming with satisfaction. "Yes," she said, her tone final. "It's time for you to earn your keep."
And as Natalie left the room, leaving Piper alone with her despair, a gut-wrenching cry tore from her throat, echoing through the empty space as she trashed the room in a frenzy of pain and anger.
Outside in the corridor, Natalie's smile grew wider, a cruel delight dancing in her eyes as she reveled in the knowledge that Piper had believed her lie.
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AN: Multi-chapter, intend to continue depending on feedback (reviews). I know this fandom lost traction a while ago, but I wanted to give it a shot.
If you read till the end, please consider leaving a review with feedback - good or bad.
Will explain more details in the form of flashbacks in subsequent chapters.