No Strings Attached

Left to fend for herself in this godforsaken place, Leonora knew she couldn't let things continue this way.

Just then, she felt something being poured over her head.

Curious, she tilted her head back, catching a woman in the act of emptying a basin over her.

Leonora, who had always lived a life of privilege, had never experienced such indignity.

She sprang up and charged at the woman, with teeth clenched in rage. "What the hell did you just dump on me?"

The woman burst into raucous laughter. "Take a whiff. You'll figure it out."

It was then that Leonora noticed the foul, rancid odor invading her nostrils. She instantly realized what the liquid was. Furious, she raised her hand to strike the woman.

But her hand was only halfway up when it was abruptly seized, and a thudding blow came crashing down on her head.

A chair smashed over her, sending her world into a dizzying spin.

That was followed by a flurry of punches and kicks.

After a brutal half-hour beating, Leonora was left nearly dead.

the words Heidi had once said to

knees, begging for forgiveness. Sᴇaʀ*ᴄh the

was what finally made the gang

crawled and stumbled onto

as she lay down, she saw

Heidi, but not as she remembered. Gone was her porcelain skin. Her eyes lacked

close look, she

welled up in Leonora's

Heidi, sobbing, "Heidi,

if seeing a demon, kicking Leonora away as she swore viciously, "Get lost. I

in disbelief. "Heidi, it's me, Leonora. Don't

I don't know you. Get any closer, and I'll have the queen here give

were as harsh as the pain in

now it was clear that Leonora was barely able to

the beatings and didn't want to invite trouble over Leonora

and ruthless, Leonora felt both

don't know each other. Nobody

the night, as Heidi

scream, her