Briar slowly opened her eyes, the world around her a blur of pain and confusion. Every inch of her body ached as if she had been crushed beneath a mountain, each movement sending a fresh wave of agony through her. She tried to sit up but found her wrists and ankles bound tightly with coarse rope. The fibers dug into her skin, leaving angry red marks.

She struggled for a few seconds and then pushed herself into a sitting position. Her muscles protested, and her head throbbed with a dull ache, but she forced herself to survey her surroundings. Briar winced at the sight of the room, remembering the chaos they had caused during their desperate struggle to escape. Broken jars and scattered herbs lay in disarray, their pungent smells mingling to create a nauseating scent that hung heavily in the air. The dim light from a flickering candle cast eerie shadows that danced around the room, making it difficult to distinguish between objects and their ghostly silhouettes.

The events of the night hit Briar like a lightning bolt. Baba Yaga had captured them, and they were now inside the hut. Panic surged through her veins as she remembered the monstrous sight of the hut lumbering through the forest, chasing them down. They had been so close to escaping, but now they were at the mercy of the witch.

Briar glanced around desperately, searching for Leon. Her heart sank when she saw him slumped against a wall near a pile of skulls, his face pale and eyes closed. He looked lifeless, and for a terrifying moment, Briar feared the worst. But then she noticed the faint rise and fall of his chest, a small but significant sign that he was still breathing.

Next to him lay another figure—a boy with bronze-colored skin and striking silver hair. He was also bound with thick ropes, his arms and legs tied in an awkward position. Beside the boy was a magnificent white horse, tangled in the net. The horse's coat shone with an ethereal light.

Briar's heart raced as she took in the scene. The boy and the horse seemed just as trapped as she and Leon were. Who were they, and what had brought them into this dreadful mess? Her thoughts were interrupted by the distant sound of a voice—a harsh, guttural murmur that sent a shiver down her spine. It was the witch, speaking in an arcane language that Briar couldn't understand.

The candle flickered, and shadows danced around the walls. Now they would face the consequences she had feared. The witch's angry face loomed in front of her. The anticipation of what the witch would do to her and Leon was killing her slowly. It was more painful than the actual death.

She turned her attention back to Leon. "Leon," she whispered urgently. "Leon, wake up."

When the prince didn't answer, she crawled towards him, her movements hindered by the ropes biting into her wrists and ankles. The room around them seemed to close in, the shadows cast by the flickering candle growing longer and more ominous.

As Briar reached the prince, she nudged him gently with her knee, her eyes searching his face for any sign of life. He remained still, his face pale and expressionless. A knot of worry tightened in her chest. She poked him again, more insistently this time. When he still didn't respond, she kicked him hard on the bottom.

Leon's eyes flew open, and he sat up with a start, his mouth gaping as if ready to scream. His eyes darted around wildly, taking in the dim, cluttered room.

"Don't shout," Briar hissed. The last thing they needed was to alert the witch.

Leon turned to her. "Briar," he stammered, his voice hoarse. "The witch..."

"Got us," Briar finished.

Leon's shoulders slumped, and he leaned back against the wall, closing his eyes in defeat. "I'm sorry," he said softly. "I know this is all my fault."

Briar raised an eyebrow. "Why?"

"I... I should have listened to you when you said it was a bad idea," Leon said, his voice cracking with regret. "We're in this mess because of me."

For a moment, Briar was at a loss for words. Part of her wanted to lash out, to tell him that yes, it was his fault and that they wouldn't be in this dire situation if he had listened to her. But she couldn't bring herself to kick him while he was already down.

"Stop saying sorry whenever something goes wrong," she said. "It's not always your fault."

Leon didn't meet her eyes, his gaze fixed on a spot on the floor. "You can blame me," he muttered. "We're going to die because of me."

Briar felt a spark of anger flare up inside her. "Excuse me," she snapped, her eyes flashing. "Who is dying?"

"Us," Leon said, his voice filled with a resigned despair. "Do you think the witch will let us go after what we did?"

"I'm not going to die," Briar said firmly. "At least not until I break the curse. Death has to wait."

"That's motivating," Leon said, a bitter smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. "But not true."

Briar's mind flashed back to the foreboding words of the reflections in the river. They had hinted at her death. Was she destined to die here, in Baba Yaga's clutches? The thought sent a chill down her spine, but she quickly pushed it aside.

"No!" she told herself fiercely. The forest fairies had assured her that the reflections' words were nothing but tricks, meant to lure her into despair. She wouldn't let herself be swayed by their dark prophecies. She would escape, she would find the magic book, and she would break the curse. She had to believe that.

"That sounds very brave," Leon said. "But the witch is Baba Yaga. Even the fairies are scared of her. And we're just two humans."

Briar studied Leon's face, noting the lines of worry etched into his features. His usual bravado was gone, replaced by a look of hopelessness that was painful to see. "What happened to you?" she asked. "Why are you talking like a failure?"

Leon lowered his eyes, unable to meet her gaze. "Because I am," he whispered, his voice filled with a sorrow that made Briar's heartache. "I failed you, Briar. I failed everyone. I thought I could handle this, that I could be the hero. But now look at us. We're prisoners, and it's my fault."

Briar stared at the prince, her heart sinking at the sight of his dejection. Where was the confident, reckless hero she had depended on? The one who had navigated the treacherous forest, faced countless dangers, and kept her spirits high with his daring optimism? Seeing Leon so defeated felt like a crushing blow to her resolve. She needed his strength now more than ever, and his despair was infectious, dragging her down into a pit of hopelessness.

"Leon," she said softly. "You're not a failure. We both made mistakes, and we both ended up here. But blaming yourself won't help us get out. I hate seeing you like this. You are brave. That's what makes you special. Don't let that go. The witch wants you to be weak, to give up."

Leon's eyes flickered with a glimmer of hope. "You think I'm brave?"

"Of course," she said, her voice firm. "Everyone knows you're brave. Our entire kingdom loves you. Remember, you are their hero. They look up to you."

"But I got us into this mess," he said, his voice breaking with regret.

Briar shook her head vigorously. "Forget that. That was the past. What matters is now. Let's not give up. We can still find a way out of this."

A faint smile touched Leon's lips, and he nodded. "Okay," he said, his voice stronger now. "What's the plan?"

"Listen, I'll untie you, and you untie me, and we'll figure out what to do next," Briar said.

Before Leon could respond, the door burst open with a deafening crash, and Baba Yaga stormed in. Her eyes were burning with fury, and a dark aura seemed to fill the room. Briar noticed that the melted door had been replaced with a new one.

The witch's eyes locked onto Briar, and she felt a chill run down her spine. Baba Yaga moved slowly, deliberately, with the Ancient Book of Spells floating ominously behind her, its pages rustling.

"So, the thieves are awake," Baba Yaga said, her voice dangerously calm. The wooden chair beside her slid across the floor with an eerie creak and stopped next to Briar and Leon. The witch sat down, her bony fingers drumming on the armrests, and the Ancient Book of Spells jumped into her lap, purring like a cat as she stroked its cover.

"Destroyed," Baba Yaga said. "Years of hard work ruined." Her eyes swept around the room, taking in the chaos and destruction. Her gaze settled back on Briar.

"Do you know what it took to mend my hut?" Baba Yaga continued, her voice rising slightly. The intensity of her stare made Briar feel like she was being physically crushed.

"I could have killed you right then and there," the witch said, her voice dropping to a whisper that sent shivers down Briar's spine. "Do you know why your bones haven't joined my fence yet?"

Briar couldn't bring herself to look the witch in the eye. The weight of Baba Yaga's gaze was unbearable, and the words seemed to twist around her heart, squeezing it tight.

"You arouse my curiosity," the witch continued. "I want to know why and how you dared to enter my hut. Many brave warriors would think hundreds of times before setting foot in here. You two are either incredibly brave or have a death wish."

The witch leaned in closer, her hooked nose nearly touching Briar's face. The stench of decay and rot emanated from her, making Briar's stomach churn. Baba Yaga's eyes were dark pools of malice.

"If I had killed you in my anger, it would have been quick," Baba Yaga said. "But now, I'll take my time. I'll kill you. Very, very painfully."

It felt as though someone had poured a bone-melting potion into Briar, her insides turning to jelly with each word Baba Yaga spoke.

"Don't you agree, my dear hut?" Baba Yaga called out.

The hut groaned in response. "Give them hell," it replied.

"Hut, you'll be able to walk again," Baba Yaga cooed, her tone unsettlingly tender. "Heal, my lovely, heal."

The witch leaned back in her chair. Her wrinkled hand rose in a gesture of command. Her eyes, cold and merciless, locked onto Briar and Leon. "Now, do you have a death wish? Tell me."

Briar and Leon exchanged a terrified glance. The air seemed to grow colder, the shadows in the room lengthening and closing in around them.

"Speak!" Baba Yaga bellowed, her voice a thunderous roar that sent a spray of spittle flying from her lips. "Why did you break into my hut?"

Briar's throat felt like it was full of sand, each attempt to speak coming up dry and rasping. She opened her mouth, but no sound emerged. Her voice caught in a stranglehold of fear.

"To steal your book," Leon blurted out.

Briar's heart sank. He wanted to die, she thought.

"Let me handle this," she said, shooting him a warning glance.

Turning to face the witch, Briar cleared her throat, willing herself to be brave. "I... I need the book," she said. "You were, well, away, so we decided to borrow it." She shivered under the witch's unblinking stare. "We didn't mean to steal it."

Baba Yaga rocked in her chair, her eyes narrowing to slits as she scrutinized Briar. "And what will you do with my book?"

Briar took a deep breath, summoning all her courage. "Break a curse and save my kingdom," she said.

Baba Yaga's eyes narrowed further, a flicker of dark amusement crossing her face. "I do not care what happens to you or your kingdom," she said, clutching the book to her chest as if it were a beloved pet. "My book. My dear book. They are trying to take you away from me. Should I let you decide what punishment you want to give them?"

The book flipped its pages eagerly, the rustling sound like the whispering of spirits eager for blood.

"Hut, suggest some punishment?" Baba Yaga called out, her tone almost playful.

"Feed them to the bear," the hut responded. "I want to see the bear tearing them apart."

Baba Yaga's lips curled into a smirk. "Oh, the bear," she mused. "The hut is suggesting I feed you to the bear, as I did to that unfortunate man who dared to enter my home." Her eyes gleamed with sadistic pleasure as she pointed to a grisly head mounted on the wall, the hollow eyes staring lifelessly into the room.

Briar recoiled, her stomach churning at the sight. So, all the rumors about Baba Yaga were true.

"But feeding you to the bear would not be nearly painful enough," Baba Yaga said, stroking her chin thoughtfully. "I want to inflict a pain a thousand times worse than the pain you caused my hut. The right punishment for stealing my book."

Briar's mind raced, desperately trying to imagine a fate more horrific than being torn apart by a bear.

"It's not your book!" Leon shouted suddenly. "You are the thief! You took it from the forest fairies!"

Baba Yaga was in front of Leon in an instant, her movements a blur of speed and fury. Her hand shot out, seizing Leon by the throat, her nails digging into his flesh and drawing blood. "So, the forest fairies sent children to retrieve the book," she hissed. "The book is mine, boy. Mine!"

"Leave him!" Briar cried as she watched Leon's face turn an alarming shade of red, his eyes bulging as he struggled for breath.

The witch released Leon, who collapsed to the floor, gasping and coughing. Baba Yaga wheeled around, her eyes blazing with fury as she grabbed a fistful of Briar's hair, yanking her head back. "You will get your punishment," she snarled, her face inches from Briar's. "I'll do what witches are famous for. I'll cook you. You will go to my stomach, and your bones will join my yard."

Baba Yaga strode over to Briar's satchel, her eyes gleaming with malevolent delight as she rummaged through it. She pulled out the flying carpet. Her smirk widened into a grin of pure malice. She tossed the satchel aside, and it landed near the silver-haired boy.

"The flying carpet," the witch said, her gaze locking onto the enchanted fabric with a look of predatory glee.

"Give it back!" Briar yelled. "That's not yours!"

Baba Yaga pointed a gnarled finger, adorned with the blue ring, at the carpet. Flames erupted from the ring, licking hungrily at the fabric. Within moments, the flying carpet was reduced to a pile of smoldering ashes.

Lilliana's magic carpet was gone. Briar's hope of completing her quest crumbled to dust, her heart sinking into a pit of despair.

Baba Yaga turned toward the fireplace, a triumphant gleam in her eye. "Start the fire," she commanded, her voice echoing through the hut. "I am finally going to cook after a long time."

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