Bonds at War: The Untouched is Mine novel Chapter 434

Chapter 434 Marianas Trench

MINA

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I woke up slowly, like my body was made of torn cloth soaked in pain. Every inhale burned. Every exhale scraped. For a moment, I couldn’t remember where I was. All I knew was that my cheek was pressed against something cold and hard, and that my ribs throbbed with every breath.

Then it hit me how I got here.

My eyes snapped open.

I wasn’t dead.

Why?

I groaned as I pushed myself upright. My head pounded in dull, nauseating waves that made me swallow back bile. The world around me was pitch black, silent except for the faint ringing in my ears and my own uneven breaths.

Rowena had hit me before–many, many times. Ever since I was little, she punished me whenever I brought home fewer rabbits or when I returned too early and wasted “daylight.” She had never raised a hand when Garrick was alive. He was the only one she ever feared disappointing. But the moment he died, her grief changed into something monstrous.

And once Calista learned from her, it became two monsters.

Corvin never intervened. He just watched and walked away, letting them do whatever they wanted.

However, even this was something I had never imagined she would actually do. Even knowing everything she hated about me, I never thought she’d go this far.

A tremor ran through my body. I pulled my knees close, trying to breathe through the ache spreading through my limbs.

It was too dark to see anything. I blinked several times, hoping my eyes would adjust, but they wouldn’t, no matter how hard I tried.

I moved my hand along the dusty floor until my fingers grazed something thin–something like a cord or string. Confused, I followed it with my hand, tugging gently, and a click sound resonated in the cold, empty space.

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10:29 Fri, Nov 28

Chapter 434 Marianas Trench

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A dim bulb flickered above me, swinging slightly from an old wire. It was small and weak, but even that faint glow stabbed into my eyes after so long in darkness.

I winced, blinking hard until shapes finally formed.

It was a basement, larger than I expected, almost the same size as the entire house above it. The floors were dirt, smoothed down over the years, but uneven in some places. Pillars were spaced throughout the room, holding up the beams above. Everything smelled old, damp, and stale, like the air had never been changed.

There was no food.

No water.

No windows.

It was filled with only scattered, forgotten things–cloths, empty baskets, and pieces of wood.

If Rowena left me here, she really meant for me to die.

I swallowed hard, but my throat felt like sandpaper. I didn’t know how long I had been unconscious. Minutes? Hours? A day?

The 23rd.

Was it already the 23rd?

My breath hitched.

Elias‘ voice echoed in my memory. I was supposed to meet him that day.

Would he wait for me?

The thought was foolish. He wouldn’t. Why would he?

I pressed a palm to my forehead, trying to clear the throbbing pain. However, it didn’t help.

There was no way out of this place. I could tell at a glance. The door above me was sealed tight,

limbs too and without a ladder, I couldn’t even reach it. Even if I somehow managed to dig my way out through the dirt walls, I’d die before getting anywhere. My body was too weak, my heavy. Every movement felt like fire under my skin.

I exhaled shakily and lowered myself onto the ground. The dirt was cold, but I didn’t care. I just needed to rest–just for a second.

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10:29 Fri, Nov 28

Chapter 434 Marianas Trench

But the moment I sat down, I sank ever so slightly.

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Slowly, I moved back and brushed away the layer of fabric covering the ground. The cloth was old, gray, and dust–coated. As I peeled it aside, more dust scattered into the air, catching the dim light.

My breath caught.

A rectangular outline appeared.

A safe.

I frowned, unsure if the pounding in my skull was making me see things. But no–the cold metal under my fingertips was real.

It wasn’t big, just a thin metal safe–small enough that I could lift it, but heavy enough that my arms trembled from the effort. My ribs screamed when I bent down to pull it fully out from its shallow pit. Dust swirled around me in clouds as I dragged the safe across the dirt, leaning back against the wall to catch my breath.

The safe had a lock. I stared at it, brain foggy, vision still fluttering from the blow to my head.

I sighed in disappointment. It would be hard to guess the combination.

It wasn’t mine, after all.

However, I still tried.

With trembling fingers, I twisted the dial.

I don’t know why, but I tried my birthday.

Click.

My heart stopped.

The safe opened.

My shaking breath echoed in the still air.

Inside, lying on a folded piece of cloth, was a small metal flask. My dry, cracked throat burned painfully at the sight.

I didn’t think. I twisted the cap open and sniffed the contents. It didn’t smell like anything.

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10:29 Fri, Nov 28

Chapter 434 Marianas Trench

Water.

My heart almost broke from relief.

I lifted it to my lips with both hands and took a careful sip.

It was definitely old and tasted metallic, but it was still water.

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Tears pricked the corners of my eyes as I drank again, slower this time, letting it pool in my mouth before swallowing.

I pulled the flask away, breathing shakily.

Why was this here?

Why… was anything like this under here?

As I lowered the flask, I saw something underneath the cloth. Several envelopes, all worn and yellowed on the edges, were held together by an old string.

I reached out and brushed away the dust. The first one on the top was numbered “3.”

Confused, I shuffled through them until I found the one labeled “1.”

And the moment I turned it over, my breath caught.

Addressed to: Marina

My chest tightened.

My mother’s name.

Hands trembling, I opened the first letter.

The handwriting was rough and heavy, appearing like the writer pressed too hard with every stroke.

Dear Marina,

I saw you for the first time on the first day of high school. I didn’t think I would fall in love.

My breath left me in a shudder.

Garrick.

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10:29 Fri, Nov 28

Chapter 434 Marianas Trench

This was Garrick’s handwriting.

I read on, each line sinking into my bones.

館

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I don’t have the courage to confess to you. You’re in love with someone else, but I don’t think he’s good for you. I don’t think he sees you the way I do.

My jaw trembled.

The next letter.

Your sister confessed to me today. I don’t know what to do. I want to forget you, but I can’t.

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