Emily’s eyes shot open, and the first thing she noticed was the harsh fluorescent light overhead.
Her eyes kicked to the white tiles on the ceiling before they seemed to blur and sharpen again with every blink.
Next, the sterile smell of antiseptic filled her nostrils unwillingly.
Her ears functioned next, letting in the sound of a low beep that came from her left, steady and rhythmic, but it did nothing to calm the panic rising in her chest.
Her heart raced as she looked around. She was in a hospital bed, surrounded by machines and medical equipment.
An IV was taped to her arm, and her body felt heavy, as though she were submerged in water. She tried to move, but a sharp pain shot through her head, making her gasp.
“Where… where am I?” she croaked, her voice barely a whisper.
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