Alina had just turned eighteen. Most girls celebrated their eighteenth birthday with laughter, friends, and the thrill of new beginnings. For Alina, it marked the beginning of a nightmare.

The whispers had followed her for days, growing louder as her initiation approached. She had overheard the words—“disgrace,” “punishment,” “humiliation”—and each time, her heart sank deeper. Terror clung to her like a second skin. She had even considered ending her life to escape the fate that awaited her, but her father had warned her in no uncertain terms. Even suicide was not an option—her mother would suffer unimaginable consequences if Alina dared to disobey.