Karma had finally caught up to me, and it was not a lie.
The soft, rhythmic chirping of birds filtered through the fog of my sleep, pulling me slowly back to my consciousness. As my senses sharpened, I became aware of the muttering voices surrounding me, low and indistinct, not far from where I lay. The warmth of sleep faded, replaced by a chilling realization as I felt the cold, hard surface beneath me.
There was no doubt that I was lying on the floor; the biting cold seeped into my bones, making my body stiffen. I resisted the instinctive urge to shiver, forcing myself to remain still.
Cracking one eye open, I saw a narrow beam of sunlight sneaking through a small window above, casting faint, angular shadows in the dim space. My heart skipped a beat as I took in my surroundings. Thick, iron bars encased me in a cage like cell, the metallic scent of rust mingling with the dampness in the air.
Panic threatened to claw its way to the surface, but I swallowed it down.
