Aliyah's POV

The pain hit first, sharp, hot, and deep, running through every nerve in my body. My breath came out in short, uneven gasps as I blinked against the harsh light spilling from the ceiling. My body ached as if I had been crushed by a mountain. Every inch of me screamed in pain, every breath burned my chest.

I tried to move, but the ropes around my wrists had bruised my skin, and my legs trembled with weakness. My stomach felt heavy, sore. The first thought that flashed through my ...