I jolted awake, my breath sharp in my chest as I gasped for air, eyes snapping open to find nothing but the thick, oppressive blackness around me. It took a moment for my senses to sharpen, and as my eyes adjusted, I realized I was no longer in my room.
I could feel the cold stone beneath me, and the air, so much heavier than before, seemed to cling to my skin like a thousand unseen hands. My head throbbed, and I instinctively reached up to touch it, wincing at the pain.
What happened?
I tried to move, but my limbs felt sluggish, unresponsive. Panic began to creep into my chest. I had been in my room—talking with Mary, discussing my fate, and then... everything went black.
The sound of footsteps echoed around me, sharp and deliberate. I froze, my heart racing, barely daring to breathe.
