9Consciousness returned instantly and violently. Rachel’s panicked, hoarse scream filled the air. When the initial shock of hearing her natural voice faded, she tried to raise her hand to her throat, but couldn’t. She glanced down as much as her restraints would let her. There was a strap across her chest and another across her forehead. Someone had made sure she couldn’t move.
A man’s face suddenly appeared in her line of vision. He had a tiny flashlight in his hands, which he used to t*****e her eyes.
“Hello there. Do you know who you are?” he asked.
Rachel swallowed. Her throat hurt, but it also felt strangely normal.
“What happened to me?” she asked.
“Somebody didn’t follow orders and you got hurt more than we anticipated. Now we have to give your brain some healing time before we
