Evelyn’s POV

Darkness wasn’t silent.

It whispered.

It pulled at my mind with cold fingers, dragging me out of consciousness slowly, like it wanted me to feel every second of waking. My body ached. My wrists stung. The scent of damp stone and something metallic—blood?—filled my nose.

I tried to move.

Chains clinked.

Real chains.

Panic flared in my chest. I opened my eyes and found nothing but ...