Pain arrived before awareness did, a deep, throbbing ache radiating from my side that made me gasp even before my eyes fully opened. Light filtered soft and unfamiliar through unfamiliar curtains, and for a disoriented moment I simply lay still, cataloguing the sterile smell of antiseptic, the steady beep of some monitor somewhere near my head, the unfamiliar weight of bandages wound tight around my torso."She's waking up." Andy's voice, close, relieved, though something heavy and cautious colored it in a way I didn't yet understand.I forced my eyes open fully, the room swimming into focus slowly, unfamiliar walls, unfamiliar equipment, clearly some kind of medical facility rather than Greta's small quarters back at the compound."Where," I managed, my voice barely a rasp."A secure clinic," Andy said, moving closer, his face drawn and pale, dark circles carved deep beneath his eyes. "One of Mira's contacts. You've been unconscious for two days,
Last Updated : 2026-09-05 Read more