Left in the cold of the night, in a place far away from the city and towns, Isabelle couldn't walk, only crawl her way out of the house, sweating and whimpering in pain. Her gown clung damply to her trembling body, and every scrape of her knees on the wet earth sent fire through her battered frame.
The only thoughts in her mind were to get back home, to reach her parents and tell them what Deven had done to her, how he had ruined and hurt her in a way no woman should ever have been hurt. His betrayal stung so deeply she didn't want to think about it, yet the burning thought of making him pay was the only thing that gave power to her limbs, the only force dragging her body forward.
After hours of crawling on the wet ground, clawing her way through the mud until her hands blistered, she finally reached the road where carriages passed. Her strength gave out completely, and Isabelle fell unconscious upon the stones.
