Rue’s POV

Pain was the first thing I felt when I woke up. It was everywhere. A consuming ache that wrapped around my entire body. My consciousness rose and fell in sluggish waves, as if I were trapped beneath ice, knocking weakly while the world above blurred.

I tried to breathe but my lungs burned.

Something hissed softly near my ear. It was a rhythmic mechanical sound.. When my eyes finally cracked open, the light was so bright I squinted my eyes in pain.

I gasped but the sound that came ...