Chapter 57

• I slowly opened my eyes, feeling a throbbing ache pulsating throughout my body. As my vision gradually cleared, I found myself surrounded by sterile white walls and the cold, clinical scent of a hospital. Panic instantly washed over me as I realized I couldn't move my hands—they were tightly handcuffed to the hospital bed, just like my head.
• My heart raced, and I attempted to lift my head, only to be met with resistance. The handcuffs clinked against the metal bedframe, leaving me trapped and helpless. Confusion clouded my mind, and I struggled to recall how I ended up in this bewildering predicament.
• Through my blurry vision, I strained to examine the room. The bright fluorescent lights stung my eyes, adding to the disorienting haze that enveloped me. The sound of my own breathing echoed in my ears, the only constant in this disconcerting silence.