Chapter 178

My fists relax, and I straighten up, a glint of resoluteness igniting in my eyes.

I cannot afford to dwell in the maze of uncertainties. I need answers and closure—whatever form they might take. And I need them ASAP because, with a little slumber, I will be struck like a vagabond. I won the first round with this monster; this time around, it should not be an execution.

Drawing on the strength that had carried me through the darkest of times, I make a silent vow to myself: I will not be a victim again; I will not succumb to the paralyzing grip of fear that had plagued my existence for far too long.

With firmness of purpose hardening all my features, both physically and internally, I squared my shoulders and set forth on a mission—to uncover the truth, confront the inexplicable, and ensure that the darkness of my past wouldn't overshadow the light that I have fought so hard to find. I will not give that monster that satisfaction. Never!

I will not let these echoes