**Chapter 7: The Darkest Depths of Despair**

Amalia slowly came to, her eyes fluttering open as she tried to take in her surroundings. She was met with a cold, sterile environment that seemed to close in on her from all sides. The room was dimly lit, with only a faint glow emanating from a single overhead light. She tried to move, but her body was bound to the bed by thick straps that dug deep into her skin. Panic set in as she realized she was trapped. She kicked and struggled against the restraints, but they only seemed to tighten. James stood over her, his expression unreadable as he watched her with a detached air. With a swift motion, he reached out and strapped her wrist to the bed, pulling the strap tight until she gasped in pain. Amalia's eyes widened as she felt the strap dig into her skin, causing it to bruise and bleed. She tried to use her other wrist to help, but James was too quick, grabbing it and strapping it down just as tightly. Amalia's eyes filled with tears as she realized the extent of her predicament. She was completely at James's mercy, and he seemed to be taking great pleasure in her distress. He moved on to her ankles, strapping them down with equal brutality. As he worked, Amalia's fear turned to despair. She was trapped, and she had no idea what James's father had planned for her. She thought of Elias, and her heart ached with worry. Would she ever see him again? As James finished strapping her down, he moved on to her neck, securing it to the bed with a strap that felt like a noose. Amalia's eyes bulged in terror as she realized she was completely immobilized. Just as she was starting to lose hope, she heard footsteps outside the room. She screamed at the top of her lungs, hoping against hope that someone would hear her and come to her rescue. But James was angry at her outburst. He slapped her across the face, his hand stinging her cheek. Amalia's eyes welled up with tears as she felt a surge of pain and fear. James grabbed a tissue from the table beside the bed and wiped away her tears, his expression cold and unyielding. "You'd do best to keep quiet," he said, his voice devoid of emotion. Amalia's eyes locked onto his, filled with a deep-seated hatred. She knew she was in the hands of a monster, and she had no idea how she was going to escape.