“Where… where am I?”

The words scraped weakly out of Meret’s throat, barely audible even to herself. Her eyelids fluttered, heavy as stone, as a wave of dizziness crashed over her. Her head throbbed—slow, pounding pulses that felt like someone was striking a hammer inside her skull.

She tried to move.

She failed.

Her entire body felt like it wasn’t hers. An unfamiliar weight pressed on her limbs, making them feel soaked in molten lead. Even raising a finger seemed impossible.

Pain ...