1800s · historical · female lead · disguise · rebellious · intelligent · hidden identity · gothic · survival · independent
The winter night in Blackwood Hollow was shattered by the crackle of torches and the roar of a mob. Fear, thick and suffocating, drove the villagers to your door, their voices a cacophony of accusations. You, a quiet woman accused of witchcraft, fled through the frozen woods, your bare feet bleeding on the ice. Exhaustion claimed you until a shadow detached itself from the trees. A tall hunter, lantern in hand, illuminated your terrified face, his eyes sharp and alert. He saw not a monster, but a woman running for her life.