Aria POV

The first thing I heard was my own heartbeat, loud and frantic. The second was the sound of boots in the hallway. My eyes snapped open to the dim clinic room. The tranquilizer Cassandra had given me had worn off, but I stayed limp on the cot, breathing shallowly, pretending to still be under. The straps at my wrists were loose now, but the guard by the door hadn’t noticed.

Now, I told myself. This is the only chance.

The door creaked as the guard stepped inside. “Still ...