Days turned into weeks in the oppressive darkness of the dungeon. Lily and I clung to hope, whispering our plans through the walls, but progress was slow. The guards were vigilant, and opportunities to communicate with other prisoners were scarce.
One day, the usual quiet of the dungeon was shattered by the sound of commotion above. Shouts and the clatter of armored footsteps echoed through the stone corridors.
"Rebecca?" Lily's voice came urgently through the wall. "Do you hear that?"
I pressed myself against the bars of my cell, straining to make out what was happening. "Something's going on upstairs," I replied. "I can't tell what, but it sounds big."
Hours passed with no explanation. The noise eventually died down, but an air of tension remained. Finally, the sound of approaching f
