**Chapter 16: Descent into Darkness**

Three weeks had passed since Ashley's last ordeal, and she had lost count of the days. She was now 30 weeks pregnant, but it felt like an eternity since she'd last felt her babies move. Kody continued to drug her regularly, keeping her in a haze of numbness and despair. The memory of the pain he had inflicted on her still lingered, a constant reminder of her helplessness. Ashley's vagina was still sewn shut, a cruel reminder of Kody's control over her body. She had given up hope of ever being free again, of ever feeling the joy of motherhood without the shadow of Kody's abuse looming over her. The days blended together in a blur of pain, fear, and medication. As the weeks went by, Ashley began to feel a growing sense of desperation. She hadn't felt the babies move in what felt like an eternity, and she was starting to worry that they were in danger. She tried to convey her concerns to Kody, but he just laughed, his eyes glinting with cruelty. "You just want to get out of here," he sneered. "You're just trying to manipulate me." Ashley shook her head, tears streaming down her face. "No, please, I'm telling you the truth. I haven't felt them move in weeks. I think something's wrong." Kody just snorted, injecting her with another dose of heroin. "You're just high, that's all," he said, his voice dripping with disdain. "You don't know what you're talking about." Ashley felt the familiar numbness wash over her, but her mind was still racing. She knew that she had to keep trying, to find a way to get out of here and get help for her babies. But every time she thought she had a plan, Kody seemed to sense it and tighten his grip on her. As the days turned into weeks, Ashley's hopes began to dwindle. She was trapped, at the mercy of a monster who seemed to take pleasure in her suffering. She was a prisoner in her own body, unable to escape or even to protect her unborn children. Kody seemed to sense her despair, and he reveled in it. He kept her tied up, constantly drugging her to keep her docile and compliant. Ashley's only comfort was the fleeting moments of consciousness, when she could think clearly and plan her escape. But even those moments were becoming fewer and farther between. Ashley was starting to lose hope, to wonder if she would ever be free again. The babies were still inside her, but she was starting to wonder if she would ever get to hold them in her arms, to feel their tiny hands and feet. As the darkness closed in around her, Ashley knew that she had to find a way to fight back. She had to hold on to her babies, to her own strength and resilience. But as she looked up at Kody, she wondered if she had the courage to keep fighting, or if she would succumb to the darkness that had consumed her.