Nico's POV:
I stirred awake, groggy and disoriented, as if I’d been underwater for too long.
The room was dim, the kind of dim that came with closed curtains and a heavy air. My head throbbed, and my limbs felt like they were made of lead. I shifted slightly, trying to move, but everything felt weighted—my arms, my chest, even my eyelids.
Then, the door creaked open.
Soft footsteps padded across the room. I didn’t open my eyes, but I felt it—a cool touch against my forehead. A damp cloth, gentle and soothing.
Fingers brushed lightly against my temple. A hush settled over me, quiet and warm. I let go. Sleep pulled me back in.
When I woke again, the light was brighter. Curtains had been drawn open, and the air didn’t feel quite so heavy anymore. I blinked, trying to sit up, but pain sparked behind my eyes and ran down my spine.
“Easy there,” a voice said gently. “Good. You woke up on your own. I was just debating whether to leave the food here and come back in a bit.”
I turned toward th
