Meret stepped out of the house, her breath steady even though the air outside was thick with dust and the metallic scent of blood. The smell clung to her skin and clothes, but she didn't care. Everything inside her felt numb, like her body was moving on its own. The night air was cold, brushing against her face and drying the sweat that still clung to her temples.
For a moment, she stood completely still, not sure what to expect. Then the glare of several torches hit her face all at once. The sudden brightness made her flinch. She closed her eyes, breathing slowly until her pulse steadied. When she opened them again, the torches had lowered.
That was when she saw them—lines of men standing across the wide yard, surrounding the entire compound. For a brief second, her heart raced. She thought they were her uncle's men, waiting to finish what he had started. Her body tensed.
