I lose consciousness twice while my body is hauled somewhere. Each time I resurface, the world is a blur of shadows and pain. By the time I regain it fully, I’m strapped to a hospital bed. One glance tells me this isn’t a legitimate healthcare facility. The space is dark, wet, and reeks of mold. The air is heavy, saturated with mildew. Small pools of water dot the ground, most mixed with red dirt. Stone walls crawl with decaying growth, their stench so foul it makes bile rise in my throat.
“Glad you’re awake. Your awful snoring had me hoping they’d kill me already.” Edison’s voice drips with false humor. As angry as I want to be, shock hits harder when I realize he’s also strapped to a bed.
“What is this? Why are we tied down in this filthy basement?”
“You haven’t figured it out y
