EIGHT

•DAMIAN•

Slowly, the world around me flickered into existence as I blinked my eyes open. Shapes and colors merged and dissolved in the room, lacking definition and stability. It was as if disparate fragments of light and hues were engaged in a chaotic dance, leaving me bewildered in their wake.

A weight, almost tangible, seemed to press upon my eyelids, urging them to close. They fluttered weakly, resisting the pull of exhaustion as I fought to keep them open.

The battle between wakefulness and slumber was a fierce one, my senses reawakening with a sluggish effort.

"He's awake," a voice quavered, reaching my ears amidst the disarray.

"Give him a moment. He's trying to focus," another voice responded, its tone laced with a mixture of concern and relief.

As I tried to gather my bearings, a throbbing ache tore through my head, intensifying into a painful headache.

It felt as if a vise tightened around my skull, squeezing relentlessly. Each pulse amplified the torment, making it difficul