Chapter 324

While Marion continued his monologue, Hannah's cold stare caught the shine of a hunting knife tucked into his waistband.

"Marion, weren't you the one who said I was your favorite?" From another cage, Elsa managed to speak up, her voice trembling as she forced herself through a wave of nausea, hoping to distract him.

Marion didn't even bother to look her way. "Shut up,you filthy bitch!" he snapped, keeping his gaze fixed on Hannah. "Now, this one-she's got a face. Fresh meat like that? I get the first round tonight."

Without warning, he shoved the cage open and grabbed Hannah's arm, dragging her forward with rough hands.

No scream escaped Hannah's lips. She did't even try to pull away. Every bit of emotion had been hammered flat, replaced with a cchilling, almost clinical calm.

Hannah let herself be yanked forward a few paces-just until she reached the edge of the cage. Right before he could haul her all the way out, she stopped and tilted her head. "Here's fine."

A finger pointed to a bare spot on the cage floor. "Lie down there. I'll undress you."

Marion hesitated for half a second and then burst out laughing. "Oh, I get it-you like to be watched, is that it?"

His excitement made his face flush red, spit flying as he spoke. "You've got a wild streak. I like that-makes this more fun!"

He released her arm and sprawled onto the dirty straw mat, spreading his arms wide and taunting,"Come on, baby, let's see what you've got."

Disgust twisted in Hannah's stomach. But nothing on her face betrayed it. She sank into a crouch,inching closer. Her gaze zeroed in on the knife hilt pressed against his back.

She reached out, hands moving as if to undo his belt,and then, at the last possible second, her grip shot to his waist. In one quick motion, she grabbed the knife handle, and yanked it free.

Marion didn't even have time for his grin to fade before-Shlunk! A dull, wet sound of metal piercing flesh echoed around the underground cells.

With both hands locked tight on the knife's handle,Hannah shoved the blade deep into his unguarded stomach, channeling every bit of her strength and focus. She'd aimed for a spot that would drop him instantly-pain and paralysis would be immediate.

"Ghh-" Marion's eyes bulged, his throat strangling on a half-formed cry.

A spray of hot blood burst from the wound, flinging crimson across Hannah's cool, steady face.

Sudden silence took hold, swallowing the row of cages. Women stared in open-mouthed shock,barely breathing.

Nothing changed in Hannah's expression. Working quickly, she snatched his own belt and wrapped it tight around his wrists, tying him securely behind his back. A ripped piece of his shirt became a gag,which she stuffed in his mouth without a word.

Hannah turned to Delia, keeping her tone as cold and steady as ever. "Is there a place to hide him?"

Delia blinked away her daze and nodded at the far end of the cages. "That way... There's an old air duct nobody goes near. Half of it is caved in, real deep."

Without pausing, Hannah dragged Marion's limp body across the dirty floor, shoved him into the narrow duct, and rolled several heavy stones to hide the opening. It would look untouched to anyone passing by.

She hurried back to the center of the cage, found a battered bucket filled with stagnant water, tore a

strip from her own clothes, and wiped away the brightest streaks of blood from the floor and straw.

After cleaning, she walked over to the cage door,grabbed the chain from the ground, and closed the door behind her with a quiet pull.

Only then did she turn back, pressing herself against the iron bars, facing the silent crowd of women still watching her.

"Now, do you believe me?" Hannah asked, her voice low but steady, echoing through the hush.

Fear lingered in the other women's faces, but something new began to flicker in their eyes. Hannah had shown them exactly what she was made of-there was no doubting her resolve now. She had the guts to fight back.

At last, a soft voice broke through the silence. Nina Corwin, the youngest among them and still curled in a corner, spoke up. "So what do we do next?"