Ethan POV

The first thing I felt was the floor biting into my cheek.

Cold. Rough. It smelled like rust and dust and something old that had been wet once and never dried properly.

I tried to move.

Pain exploded at the back of my head.

A sharp, ringing crack filled my skull, like metal striking bone. White light burst behind my eyes. I tasted blood immediately. Thick. Warm. It slid down my tongue and pooled at the corner of my mouth.

“Get him up.”

Hands grabbed me. Hard. Fingers dug into my ...