Dim sunlight slipped into the darkened room through a narrow slit between the velvet curtains, thin and hesitant, as though afraid to intrude.
Her eyelids felt impossibly heavy, as if weighted down by stone, refusing to open no matter how hard she tried. Her body was drained utterly spent every limb aching as though she'd been shattered and stitched back together wrong. The heaviness pressed down on her chest, stealing her breath, until a silent gasp tore from her lips.
Then
Sparks.
They raced across her skin without warning, followed by a sharp, tingling sensation that flared at one specific spot on her neck.
Her hand flew up instinctively, fingers brushing against swollen, tender flesh.
Pain.
And with it, memory.
Everything from the night before came crashing back all at once.
Her eyes flew open.
The ceiling above her was unfamiliar.
Panic surged as she tried to sit up only to freeze when the horrifying truth registered.
