Once I finally made it home, I peeled off my soaked clothes and shoes with relief. I had no energy and no mood for anything, but I had to eat, so I dragged myself straight to the kitchen. While reheating some pilaf, I saw Anton's name flash on the screen.

"Iza, kitten, I wanted to come over tonight, but it probably won't work out," my boyfriend says with frustration. "The rain's pouring like crazy, and I've got a pile of work I brought home. If I can manage, I'll drop by. But it's probably better if you don't wait up-just get some rest. We'll see each other tomorrow and spend the day together."

"Alright," I sigh, taking the plate out of the microwave. "I'm already about to collapse myself," I admit. "Don't overwork yourself. Kisses."

Honestly, it's a good thing we don't live together. We each have our own space, even though we exchanged apartment keys long ago and can easily wander between our homes.

After a quick dinner, I head to the shower and then straight to bed. This piece of furniture-I absolutely adore. I miss it when I'm away and daydream about it. Household chores can wait until tomorrow; tonight, I can let myself relax.

To distract myself from the day's fuss and the monotony of my life, I grab my phone and open one of my favorite reading apps.

Now this is where things get interesting! Where the characters truly live life to the fullest-love and hate, passion and contempt, friendship and rivalry, loyalty and betrayal, scandals, intrigue, investigations!

It's while reading books that I truly experience all these emotions-as if I'm living them myself. I worry about the characters, empathize with them, and want them to be happy... and as for the villains-I wish them fair and, let's be honest, brutally deserved punishment! No matter how you put it, when scoundrels get what's coming to them, it's like a weight lifts off my soul.

And the passion they describe in books-my goodness! It makes me want to climb right onto Antoshka and ravish his... potato. Well, alright, not a potato-more like a respectable-sized banana-but still... I just wish he'd use it more often and more actively, you know?

And today, another love scene is supposed to be published by one of my favorite authors, so... I make myself comfortable.

But when I open the app and go to the book I'm interested in, I'm met with unexpected disappointment. My monthly reading subscription has expired. I let out a frustrated sigh and am about to close the device when a bright pop-up window appears.

"Special offer of the day! Want to dive into the fantastic world of your favorite characters? Renew your subscription for..."

My eyes widen when I see a very pleasant price-three times cheaper than what I usually pay. Now that's not bad at all! What an offer-time to save some money. A small thing, but it's nice!

Without thinking too long, I press the active button, and it takes me to my bank's page, where I confirm the payment. The familiar notification sound on my phone tells me the transaction was successful.

Just in case, I restart the app and go back into the book... but it's still locked, same as before.

Oh, for crying out loud! Bastards! They took my money and gave me nothing in return! This day is just one big disappointment.

After fifteen minutes of fuming and constantly refreshing the app, I finally accept the bitter truth: without a sucker, life is dull. Tossing my phone aside in frustration, I drag myself to the bathroom before bed. After taking care of business, I wash my hands-when suddenly, the light in the bathroom goes out.

Perfect! Another blackout!

I try to feel my way along the wall, but to my surprise, I can't find it-not just where it used to be, but anywhere at all. A step, another step... and still nothing!

By my rough calculations, I should already be in the kitchen, yet I can't even reach a wall. Looking more closely, I notice a faint light ahead.

What the hell?!

I still have about twenty meters to go before reaching the light. I'm in complete daze-this is definitely not my bathroom anymore!

There's no other way but forward, toward the light. And the closer I get, the more clearly I realize I'm in some kind of cave or tunnel, heading toward the exit.

Ahead, I feel a fresh breeze and even hear the loud singing of some birds.

My eyes widen to saucer size when I step out of the cave and find myself on a small ledge on a cliff, covered with winding trees and bushes. Looking back, I'm shocked all over again-behind me is a small grotto, barely three meters deep into the rock!

No. That's not right. THAAAT'S not right! What the hell is going on?! How did I climb out of a rock? And most importantly-HOW DO I GET BACK?!

Panic crashes over me like an avalanche. I start hysterically and frantically searching the grotto walls, hoping to find some lever, button, or who knows what-to somehow open a way through the rock and get back home.

But all my efforts are in vain! There's nothing in the stone that could help me in this full-blown meltdown.

I pull myself together and try to assess the situation rationally-but it's not really working. There's only one sensible explanation: I must have fallen asleep, and this is all just a dream!

But that theory is brutally smashed when a jagged rock jabs into my pinky toe, making me stumble painfully. Howling from the pain, I clutch my injured foot, swearing like a sailor. It hurts way too much-and feels way too real for a dream!

But giving up is not an option! I have to fall asleep-and when I wake up, I'll be back in my apartment, phone smashed into my face, just like it's happened more than once before.

Curling up in the far corner of the grotto, I settle down on the ground-thankfully dry and surprisingly warm, as if it's early spring or summer here, which is a small mercy.

Turning my back to the rock, I tuck my hand under my head, close my eyes, and try with all my might to fall asleep.

Counting sheep, recalling every detail of the last quarter's report, and even reviewing my boring life, sleep still wouldn't come-which was weird, considering I had an absolutely exhausting day. In fact, I felt unusually alert and full of energy.

After freaking out one more time, I gave up on trying to sleep. It's not working; I need something else.

Well, since I'm already stuck here-who knows where-it's silly to just sit still. Besides, who knows what might be lurking around here? I need to look around, find a safer spot, and maybe even some food.

Alright, Iza, you were bored with your life and wanted to shake things up-well, here you go, full throttle!

I hope I didn't end up in the distant past, where eternally hungry dinosaurs roam-or worse, that time when giant arthropods and spiders ruled the planet. Just the thought makes me shudder. I hate spiders.

But my assumptions fell apart like a house of cards when I stepped onto a ledge and saw two suns and something like a moon hanging in the sky-in broad daylight.

Damn, I'm definitely not on Earth!

And that's terrifying, because I have absolutely no idea how to survive here or what to do next!

Fragments from alien and predator movies and all sorts of similar nonsense started rushing through my head, triggering uncontrollable panic.

Well, at least I'm breathing freely-that's something. There's even a pleasant scent of some kind of flowers in the air.

Looking around, I see twisting trees and bushes that look like ours. Of course, there are differences, but not very significant-though I can't possibly know all Earth plants.

Standing on the edge of the ledge, I survey the area. Behind me is the rock I climbed out of, and on the horizon, a mountain range with snowy peaks. Ahead lies a huge valley with a winding river flowing into a dense forest. Beautiful-no arguments there.

Suddenly, focusing closely, I spot thin streams of smoke right at the forest's edge. Trying to see better, it seems like there's a small settlement! For sure! I can even make out some fields!

Well, if there are people and fields, then I probably won't run into dinosaurs... theoretically... but no guarantees.

Carefully climbing down from the rocky ledge and pushing through thick bushes of some shrub, I see a proper gentle slope leading down from the height. Not very convenient, of course, to be hiking in slippers, but better than barefoot.

After wandering around the area for probably four hours, I realize I'm completely lost and have no idea where to go next. The landscape all looks the same, and now it even feels like I'm walking in circles. I can't even roughly figure out where that settlement is anymore.

And honestly, from the ledge it seemed like it was just a stone's throw away-but in reality, it's much farther!

I'm thirsty and hungry. My slippers are falling apart and are held together by sheer good faith. The sun... the suns... or whatever they're called, have already cooked my brain enough, and I just want to hide in the shade until better times come. But stopping isn't an option-I need to find shelter. The only consolation is that I haven't seen any animals except some small birds.

After walking for another half hour, I thought I heard the sound of a river. Overjoyed like an elephant after a bath, I run toward the babbling cacophony-and my happiness knows no bounds. It is a river!

Dropping to my knees on the warm sand, I scoop up water with my hands, washing my face and wiping my neck and armpits, which smell so strong they could knock out a horse.

The temptation wins, and I start drinking the water-because without it, I definitely won't survive, so it's worth the risk. The water tastes surprisingly good and refreshing.

Once I've pulled myself together and calmed down a bit, I close my eyes blissfully and look at the water. But then I get a very unexpected surprise-there, reflected on the water's surface, is the face of some random girl staring back at me!

At first, I didn't believe it and started checking my own body. And sure enough, my skin is several shades lighter than usual. My legs even look slimmer, and my chest is bigger-which couldn't help but make me happy since I've struggled with a tiny bust my whole life.

My hair really surprised me. It had grown past my shoulder blades, and my peroxide blonde was now almost white, with a slight lilac tint. Quite unusual and beautiful, I must admit.

But what surprised me the most were my hands. From my wrists all the way up to my shoulders, they were covered in some kind of black tattoos!

Examining my limbs, I realized it didn't really look like typical tattoos. It was more like a design on my skin-very clear and detailed, with delicate, precise, and refined patterns. Usually, tattoos blur over time; the outlines aren't as sharp as when first done, and the colors fade slightly. But here... everything was perfect, incredible!

I actually liked the design. It consisted of a beautiful, intricate ornament intertwined with flexible stems of some plants and flowers. Although there were no actual flowers-only closed buds, one of which stood out especially large.

Looking myself over more carefully, I discovered another tattoo at the very bottom of my stomach, starting just below my belly button and trailing downward, crossing over my pubic area and... oh gods! Down there!

What a scandal! And those buds again! Though honestly, in the overall design, it was actually quite pretty.

So there I am, standing awkwardly with my panties and pajama shorts pulled aside, inspecting my newly upgraded feminine assets, when I hear a distinct whistle.

Spinning around sharply, I see two huge men watching me, whispering to each other and quietly chuckling!

I flushed red as a tomato. How embarrassing!

But all shame vanished the moment those two hulks gave me a predatory grin and started approaching, mumbling something in a language I couldn't understand.

I didn't need a translator to guess their intentions-judging by their rapidly adjusting pants, the way they kept glancing at each other, and laughing.

I've never felt this kind of fear and panic-not even when I first found myself in this strange new world.

Well, damn, Isabella! You barely got to know this strange, wonderful new world, and now two big brutes are about to violate you! Looks like my everyday life is about to get a lot more interesting... and my sexual experience too. Not sure I'll survive this, though.

I suddenly spin around and bolt, trying to escape. But my attempt is cut short before it even really starts-I crash painfully into the broad chest of another man. Like running full speed into a tree, it knocks the wind out of me.

With horror, I look up-and panic and fear freeze me solid when I see his eyes: red irises, studying me closely.

Oh my God... could he be... some kind of demon?!

I try to pull away from this monster, but grasping hands hold me tight in place. Flashing me an angry glare, the man growls something.

"I don't understand you! Let me go!" I start struggling, but it's useless.

The two men from behind approach us and say something to the big guy. After listening to them, the brute-not exactly pleasant-grabs me by the chin and begins turning my head from side to side, inspecting me closely. Then, shamelessly, he lifts my pajama shirt and looks at my stomach, slightly pulling down my shorts.

"Hey! Don't get fresh with me, you bastard!" I protest, grabbing the idiot's hand and pushing it away.

Growling, the man eyes me up and down, then with a satisfied smirk mutters something to his men.

It's clear who the boss is-those two guys lower their heads, looking disappointed and obedient.

Suddenly, my feet lifted off the ground, and in a rude, barbaric way, I was tossed over someone's shoulder and dragged off to who knows where.

My struggling, kicking, and heavy swearing lasted about twenty minutes. After that, completely exhausted, I just dangled on the man, whose strength didn't seem bothered at all by my weight-he didn't even miss a breath. He kept walking, chatting with his friends.

It seemed my fate was clear and sealed. Despair gripped my entire being, and tears were ready to burst out in a flood-when I saw we were approaching some settlement. It looked like the one I had seen from the ledge.

Before I could even feel a flicker of hope or get a good look around, they started dragging me to a shabby hut on the very outskirts-without even entering the settlement itself.

The man carrying me barked something to his friends, who laughed and walked away while I was shoved into the lair.

That's it! They've assigned me! Apparently, this huge moron will be first in line to violate me, and there's no one to save me...