Evelyn's POV

I was cold, a bone-chilling cold that seeped deep into my marrow, numbing every inch of my body. It felt like I was dying. I was already dying. The frigid air sliced through the tattered remnants of my clothing, a cruel reminder of my vulnerability. I tried to wrap my arms around myself, my hands trembling as I attempted to shield my body from the biting wind. My fingers, stiff and blue, could barely manage to hold the rags together. It was a futile effort, and I knew it.

The night was pitch black, the kind of darkness that swallowed everything whole, leaving nothing but an oppressive silence....