Chapter 57

My heart was beating fast in this small room that had very little light and each time it beat I could hear it echoing in the tense silence surrounding me which felt so thick like I was trapped in a heavy fog. The air in the room felt dense and almost hard to breathe as if it was weighed down by the heavy accusations that filled every corner pressing down on me from all sides and making me feel smaller.

I couldn't help but look at the locked door and my heart raced even more as I was hit by a strong feeling of being trapped. It was as if the walls were getting closer and closer threatening to close in on me completely. They had called me a “poisoner.” a word that felt terrible and spun around in my thoughts like a dark and twisted song that I couldn’t get out of my head. “Murderer of sweet Dahlia.” they had said. This idea ate away at me from the inside a torment that felt impossible to escape.

How could they ever think such an awful thing about me? Dahlia had been so innocent full of laughter and life. I could never hurt a child it was something that I just couldn't imagine doing. I whispered to myself “Raf will understand.” holding on desperately to that fading bit of hope that seemed so difficult to grasp at that moment. But deep down inside I could feel the chilling reality of his doubt even when I needed his support the most.

“Why in the world would I want to poison someone so innocent?” I had begged Raf earlier my voice shaking with emotion as desperation filled every single word that I spoke. There was a time I truly believed that he would always stand by my side a loyal friend and ally whom I could count on without any doubt.

“Raf please you have to trust me on this!” I exclaimed trying to reach the friend I once knew. But now as I thought back I could clearly remember the way he had looked at me just moments ago his eyes filled with coldness and accusation a look that hurt me more than any physical wound could have. A new wave of fear settled into my chest squeezing my heart tightly.

Grief and anger had twisted his perception of me transforming him into someone I barely recognized anymore. When he leaned in closer to me every word he spoke dripped with accusation as if they were poisonous.

“I found out that the poison came from a plant that was traced right back to your room Iris. How do you plan to explain that?”

When I heard his words I felt a deep pain inside me almost like a twisting sensation in my stomach. I couldn’t hold back my feelings any longer. “I don’t know what you are talking about! I’ve never even laid eyes on that plant before!”

I exclaimed feeling my frustration building up inside me. It was like a pressure that was ready to burst. But even as I tried to defend myself a troubling thought started to sneak into my mind. I began to wonder if could I have overlooked something important.

At that moment a realization hit me like a bolt of lightning—unexpected and frightening. I suddenly understood that someone had set me up to take the blame for something I didn't do. With every moment that passed, I could feel a dark and sinister force wrapping around my throat making it hard to breathe.

I had to make myself think clearly and not panic. I began to wonder who would have the heart to do something so mean and hurtful. My thoughts raced through my mind searching for names and faces of people who might want to hurt me.

Could it have been Maria the old maid who worked for us? She was always bitter and I had seen her hold onto her anger even when she pretended to be polite.

Or maybe it was Luiza the woman Raf's family wanted him to marry. She had a jealous nature one that could turn into something dark and I knew from my own past experiences just how dangerous jealousy could be.

The ropes that were tightly wrapped around my wrists pressed painfully into my skin causing a sharp sting with every attempt I made to free myself. Each time I struggled the pain only seemed to worsen serving as a harsh reminder of just how powerless I was in this situation.

“Oh no, I need to find a way to escape from this place...” I whispered to myself feeling a sense of urgency rising within me. I shifted my body to inch closer to the door and I began to hit my fists violently against the hard surface. My desperation gave me the strength to shout “Please let me out! Is there anyone out there who can help me?!”

Time moved so slowly like a snail as the silence continued on and on around me. It felt heavy and oppressive and the quiet seemed to wrap around me like a thick blanket. In that overwhelming stillness, my fear crept in nibbling away at my thoughts.

It turned my worry into a swirling storm of panic that seemed impossible to escape. I couldn't help but whisper to myself “What if they just leave me here all alone?” The thought filled me with dread making my stomach feel tight and uncomfortable.

Just when I was starting to struggle with the terrifying idea that I might be stuck here forever something happened. My heart suddenly raced with a mix of hope and surprise at the sound of a key turning in the lock. That noise broke the silence around me and it felt like a burst of light in the dark.

The door suddenly opened and a wave of relief came over me when I saw Hugo standing right there. His face had an expression that I couldn't quite understand but in that moment I felt a small spark of hope beginning to grow amid all my sadness and despair.

“Iris...” he said carefully his eyes darting around to look at the ropes that tied me up. There was a mix of worry and uncertainty in his expression. “Can you tell me what happened?”

“I need your help to make these ropes a little looser if you don’t mind,” I said raising my wrists for him to see the bruised skin that was marked beneath the tight bindings. “They’re pressing into my skin hard and it’s causing me a lot of pain, Hugo. Please it hurts so much!”

Hugo paused for a moment a look of worry creasing his forehead as he struggled with a difficult decision inside his mind. He said “I really shouldn’t be doing this—”

“Please,” I said cutting in as my voice trembled because I was feeling so desperate and overwhelmed. “I really can’t stay locked up like this anymore! You have to try to understand what I’m going through. I’m completely innocent! I didn’t poison Dahlia. I would never do something like that! I can’t handle this situation any longer I need to feel… like a human being again.” Tears started to form in my eyes and they overflowed creating a heartfelt plea for mercy that showed just how serious and difficult my situation truly was.

When he saw that I was feeling so much distress and unhappiness it seemed to weaken his determination and make him change his mind. With a deep sigh that showed he had given up, he took a step closer to me. Then he started to untie the ropes that were binding me.

He spoke in a gentle voice almost as if he were afraid to make too much noise. “Alright just try to calm down,” he said quietly his words soft and barely audible. “I’ll loosen the ropes for you. But please… don’t yell again it could bring too many people here and we don’t want that.”