Yael was terrifying.
He didn't move like a normal man. He didn't speak like one either. He acted like rules were for other people, and that made him more dangerous than any threat I could name.
The moment my voice vanished, my whole body locked up. Fear sat in my throat like a stone, heavy and unmoving. I tried to speak again, tried to force even a weak sound out, but nothing came. I panicked and started waving my hands, begging without words.
Yael watched me for a beat, then finally spoke, calm as if he was discussing breakfast.
"Elena, calm down. The medicine only lasts a week. You'll be able to speak again soon."
He sounded reassuring, but my instincts didn't relax. Something in me still believed he could be lying. Still, I had no choice. If I refused his terms, he could leave me trapped and unheard, and nobody would ever find me.
If I could get back to the mainland, losing my voice for a while was a small price.
