ARIA'S POV
Waking up felt like dragging myself out of a nightmare only to find myself stuck in another.
My body… it ached. Every bone. Every joint. My eyes burned, dry and heavy, and my head pulsed with a dull throb like someone knocking from the inside of my skull. My leg felt like lead, stiff and wrapped tight. Sore didn’t even cover it—my entire being was screaming.
But I couldn’t just lie there. I couldn’t stay helpless. Not again.
I bit down, clenching my jaw and used my arms to push myself up. The pain shot up my spine like fire. "Ah!" I cried out before I could catch myself, breath hitching.
Before I could blink, the door creaked, and a silhouette filled the frame.
"Rhea?" I croaked, confused, blinking through the blur. She stepped in like she'd been standing right outside, w
