chapter seventeen

[ IN WHICH SHE IS ABOUT TO BE PLEASED ]

I spring up from the bed.

Panting heavily, cold sweat beads on my forehead. My eyes are wide as they rove the room I've been put in. My vision remains blurry, so I blink several times, trying to peer through the poor eye sight. I spot a few maids standing in the room with bowls of water in their hands. A second after being awake, pain seeps into my body. My skin instantly feels like it's on fire. My eyes snap shut as I wail in pain. I sound like a wounded whale in the ocean, which would have been embarrassing if I was in front of the cameras. My body shakes uncontrollably. Memories —flashes of images— flood my mind, and the pain becomes unbearable.

Suddenly, warm arms wrap around me.

"I am here. You will be fine. Lay back down."

Sin's soothing voice envelopes me like a warm blanket as he pushes me gently onto the soft sheets of the bed. My back falls on the mattress, and pain stings my skin once again. I don't remember the pain being this into