Raven felt her mind swimming back to the surface like a film coming back into focus. It was an effort: she felt so cold and loose and achy, as if she’d just walked a long way in intense heat. That must have been some kind of drug, she guessed. It had knocked her out completely, and it took a long few moments to come back to herself.

The first thing she was aware of was the pressure against her wrists and the awkward angle they were pinioned at behind her. She felt hard ...