37
~Lisa's POV
I watched them leave, the sound of their footsteps fading down the hall like a cruel reminder of how alone I was. Matilda's words echoed in my ears like a hammer, "You have six minutes to get to the kitchen and start working."
Six minutes.
I didn't even know if I could stand.
But I had no choice.
Every second that ticked by felt like a punishment in itself, tightening around my chest like a rope. My arms felt like lead, but I gritted my teeth and forced them to move, reaching out to grip the edge of the bed.
The moment I pushed myself up, my body screamed in protest.
A sharp, white-hot pain shot through my back and down my thighs, the punishment from yesterday still fresh, still raw. I gasped, clutching the sheet beneath me with trembling fingers, sweat instantly beading on my forehead. The wounds from the flogging throbbed like open fire beneath my skin, and the fever only made it worse.
The room spun.
