SELENE
I jolted awake, lungs gasping for air, the stench of septic still clinging to my nose like rot embedded in flesh. My limbs were lead-heavy with drowsiness, my veins sluggish as if drugged. I dragged myself upright, blinking through the haze as the world came into view.
The first thing that hit me wasn’t sight—it was sensation. A cool breeze, crisp and fragrant with midnight air, brushed against my bare skin. Then my eyes caught up—and my jaw almost dropped.
I was somewhere high. A wide, open space stretched around me like a palace rooftop. The stars above were unfiltered, bold against the dark velvet sky. A crystal-clear swimming pool shimmered a few meters ahead, glowing faintly with underwater lights. Two massive stone pillars, entwined with flowering vines, framed the scene li
