The first thing Elle was aware of when she woke was the hard floor beneath her head. In the silence of the dark room her gulp was audible, the saliva struggling to move down her dry throat. Panic wrapped vice-like around her chest, which burned as she coughed and spluttered.
Through the slats of the blinds poured a small amount of light. It penetrated the darkness of the room, illuminating her bedroom just enough for her to recognise the furniture. In the chair beside her desk sat a figure, his back turned to her as she struggled to sit up.
Relief washed over her at the realisation that she wasn't tied or bound. But her entire body ached, her muscles throbbing in protest as they contracted with the movement. Every inch of her skin felt battered and bruised as though she'd been thrown to
