Liliana
I woke up to silence. The kind of heavy, suffocating silence that pressed against my eardrums and made my heart race with panic.
My eyes fluttered open slowly, adjusting to the dim light filtering through the heavy curtains. Everything felt wrong. My body ached in places I didn't know could hurt. My throat felt raw and scratchy, like I had been screaming for hours.
The IV needle in my arm tugged at my skin when I tried to move. Clear liquid dripped steadily from a bag hanging beside the bed. Each drop echoed in the quiet room like a tiny clock counting down.
I was back in Mikhail's bedroom. The same room where Anastasia had chained me up like an animal. The memory hit me like a physical blow, making my stomach twist with nausea.
My hand flew to my throat instinctively. My fin
