A sharp, chemical scent invaded my senses, and I barely had time to panic before darkness dragged me under.
Panic rose in my chest like a wave threatening to swallow me whole.
I glanced around, heart hammering. The room I was in looked abandoned. Dust coated every surface, and cobwebs clung to the corners like silent witnesses. The windows were grimy and let in barely any light. The apartment had clearly been left untouched for years — yet the ropes that held me were recent.
I stumbled to my feet, dragging the chair I was tied to with me, trying to assess the room. There was a small kitchen, rusted and useless. A bathroom door hung half-off its hinges. The entire place smelled like mold and despair. Every instinct screamed at me to escape, but I was helpless.
Why had I gone to meet my
