Chapter 43 : Whiplash

I wasn't in my bed.

Honestly, I had no idea where I was, but it wasn't good. There was a pit in my stomach as the scent of smoke filled my nostrils. My senses were bombarded with 'not safe.' A trickle of warm blood crawled down my face as I slowly opened my eyes to take everything in.

The first thing my gaze locked on was a dancing flame. It illuminated what I registered as a forest ground before me. Letting out a soft groan, I tried to move only to realize my hands were tied behind my back. Unfortunately, my legs suffered the same fate, as I realized I couldn't move them, either.

I was forced here into a kneeling position, a cloth shoved into my mouth so that I couldn't scream. The world around me swirled and rocked. It was impossible for me to get an idea of what happened or why.

My senses just kept going haywire despite my trying to center on where I was or what was happening. There was too much pine, too much smoke, too much ringing in my ears, and too many tears in my e