Attempted escape

Sophia's legs trembled as she stepped out of the carriage, her eyes fixed on the grand estate that loomed before her. The imposing structure seemed to whisper tales of despair and desperation, its stone walls bearing witness to the countless souls who had suffered within its confines.

Eric's grip on her arm was like a vice, his fingers digging deep into her flesh as he guided her towards the entrance. The heavy wooden doors creaked open, revealing a dimly lit hallway that seemed to stretch on forever.

As they stepped inside, the doors closed behind them with a resounding thud, the sound echoing through the cavernous space like a death knell. Sophia's heart raced with fear, her mind reeling with thoughts of escape, of freedom, of survival.

But for now, she was trapped, a prisoner in a gilded cage, forced to endure the whims of her monstrous husband. The darkness closed in around her, a suffocating shroud that threatened to consume her very soul.

And then, Eric spoke, his voice low and menacing, his words dripping with malice. "Welcome to our home, Sophia. You will never leave."

The sound of the slap echoed through the hallway, a sharp crack that seemed to reverberate through every molecule of air. Eric's head snapped to the side, his eyes flashing with anger, his face reddening with rage.

For a moment, he seemed frozen in place, his grip on Sophia's arm tightening to a painful degree. Then, his face twisted into a snarl, he yanked her close, his breath hot against her ear.

"You dare to strike me?" he hissed, his voice low and deadly. "You will pay for that insolence, Sophia. Oh, how you will pay."

Sophia's heart raced with fear, her mind racing with thoughts of escape, of defense, of survival. She knew she had crossed a line, but she couldn't help herself. She would not be cowed, she would not be controlled.

As Eric's grip tightened, Sophia prepared herself for the worst. But she would not go down without a fight. She would resist, she would rebel, she would survive. No matter what Eric had in store for her.

Eric's eyes blazed with fury as he dragged Sophia deeper into the estate, his grip on her arm like a vice. She struggled and kicked, but he was too strong, too determined.

He threw her into a dark, damp cell, the door slamming shut behind her with a deafening crash. Sophia heard the sound of keys scraping against metal, the clang of the lock falling into place.

She was trapped, alone and helpless in the darkness. But Sophia refused to give up. She felt her way around the cell, her hands searching for any weakness, any chance of escape.

As she moved, her eyes began to adjust to the darkness, and she saw that the cell was small, with stone walls and a cold, damp floor. But there was something else, something that made her heart race with hope.

A small, barred window, high above her head. A glimmer of light, a chance of freedom. Sophia knew she had to act fast, before Eric returned to torment her further.

She began to climb, her fingers finding holds in the stone walls, her feet scrambling for purchase. The window was her only hope, and she was determined to reach it, no matter what it took.

As she climbed, Sophia felt a sense of determination, of defiance, that she had never felt before. She would escape, she would survive, and she would make Eric pay for his cruelty.

Sophia's hands glowed with a soft, blue light as she pressed them against the cell wall. She could feel the magic coursing through her veins, a powerful force that she had kept hidden for so long.

As she focused her energy, the stones in the wall began to tremble, the mortar between them cracking and crumbling. The wall weakened, the stones starting to fall away, revealing a small opening.

Sophia's heart raced with excitement and fear. She knew she had to act fast, before Eric or his guards discovered what she had done. She squeezed through the opening, her dress tearing on the rough edges of the stones.

As she emerged on the other side, Sophia found herself in a long, dark corridor. She could hear the sound of footsteps echoing through the hallway, growing louder with each passing moment.

She knew she had to move quickly, to find a place to hide before Eric's guards found her. Sophia's magic still pulsed through her veins, guiding her as she ran down the corridor, her feet pounding against the cold stone floor.

She turned a corner, and a door appeared before her. Sophia's magic urged her to open it, to seek refuge inside. She pushed the door open, and a warm light spilled out, enveloping her in its embrace.

Sophia stepped inside, her heart still racing with fear and excitement. She knew she had to keep moving, to find a way out of the estate and back to her own world. But for now, she was safe, hidden from Eric's wrath and his guards' pursuit.