Chapter 56. A Moonlit Ritual

When Cinnia's eyes fluttered open for the third time in a row, she was met with the sight of beauty. The full moon shone down at her as if inviting her into its embrace. For a moment, she was at peace as she gazed up at it. She made to sit up, to admire it fully but to her consternation, she was unable to move. 

Her body was tied down by heavy chains which were a bit loose around her baby bump. Her breathing quickened as she turned her head from side to side, trying to get her bearings and figure out where exactly she was. Cinnia caught sight of the stack of wood beneath her. An altar of some sort. She was in an open space but there were walls all around her so that meant she wasn't outside. Suddenly, she remembered. The guilty look on Sophie's face. The proud smirk on Esther's lips. They were responsible for this. 

"Sophie..." Cinnia's voice cracked. A wave of sadness washed over her. She had trusted Sophie with her life. 'Why must everyone I trust betray me?