Rayne Waking up felt like drowning in molasses. Everything was thick. Slow. Heavy. Like my body was underwater and my brain was a full ten seconds behind every breath I took. The first thing I noticed was the sound. Beeping. Soft. Steady. Mechanical. The next thing was the pain. Not sharp, not screaming—but everywhere. Deep, aching pressure that pulsed through my body like a warning siren. My skull throbbed as if a drumline had set up camp inside. My abdomen felt tight, bandaged, heavy. And my leg—when I shifted slightly—shot a bolt of pain so intense I almost passed out again. I hissed, biting down a groan. Machines were attached to me. I could see the IV in my arm, feel the leads taped to my chest. The sheets smelled like bleach and latex. Cold. Clean. Hospital. What the hell

