Darkness hovered at the edges of Audrey’s mind like a shroud reluctant to lift. Her eyelids fluttered open to the muted glow of the estate’s bedroom. The faint hum of rain against the windowpane seeped into her awareness grounding her. Her chest tightened as fragments of memories surged bits and pieces she couldn’t piece together fully yet they clawed at her consciousness.
She struggled to sit upright the effort pulling a low groan from her lips. A familiar voice cut through the haze.
“You’re awake.”
Adam’s figure loomed near the doorway his face shadowed by the dim lighting. Relief softened his sharp features but his stance was taut guarded as though bracing for something.
Audrey blinked her throat dry. “What... happened?”
“You fainted” Adam said stepping closer. “You’ve be
