I woke up gradually, my senses returning in slow, agonizing waves. The air was cold, damp, and smelled heavily of rust, sea salt, and cheap diesel. A rhythmic, metallic thud echoed in the distance—the sound of heavy machinery or shipping containers swaying in the wind.
My hands were bound behind my back with heavy-duty zip ties that bit sharply into my wrists every time I moved. I was sitting on a cold concrete floor, my back pressed against a thick iron pillar. My white silk shirt was torn at the shoulder, stained with soot and faint grease, and my pencil skirt was hitched up high above my knees.
I sucked in a shaky breath, forcing my heart rate down. Panic will kill you faster than they will.
"She’s awake."
A low, gravelly voice echoed through the vast, cavernous room.
I snappe
