Jasmine was fading in and out, feeling totally drained from being thirsty and hungry. The dungeon felt awful, this dark, wet air pressing in on her. She was lost in her own head when she heard a key jiggling in the lock. Bam! She was wide awake, her heart going crazy. Was she excited or just plain scared?

The door squeaked open, and a guard walked in carrying a small tray – just a piece of hard bread and some water. He put it down without a word, his face blank, and then turned to leave. Jasmine tried to sit up, and it was like a major workout, but her...