288. Anxious Aarav

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The first man sighed and straightened up. "We’ll see if you’re telling the truth. Maybe a little persuasion will help jog your memory." He nodded to the silent man, who stepped forward, grabbing Elara by the arm and dragging her to her feet.

"No, please!" Elara cried, struggling against his grip, but it was no use. They were much stronger than her.

They hauled her to a small, dark room at the back of the hideout. It was damp and smelled of mildew. They threw her onto a chair and tied her hands and feet, leaving her feeling even more helpless.

"We’ll give you some time to think," the first man said, his voice dripping with menace. "Maybe by the time we come back, you’ll be ready to talk."

With that, they left the room, the door slamming shut behind them.

Elara was alone, the darkness closing in around her. She knew she had to stay strong, but fear was making it hard to think straight. She took a few deep breaths, trying to calm herself. There had to be a way out of this.