“Serafina.”
Her eyes snapped open as her head jerked to the left where she heard her name being called. Through a veil of sweat-laden hair, she listlessly eyed a man standing at her side.
No longer in a hospital bed, she was in a much darker place, catching the rancid, fetid stench of dirt, blood, and piss wafting the air. Serafina stood, dangling, naked toes barely touched the rough graveled ground below as her arms were fully extended upward with shackles clamped to each wrist. Above, a singular light, pouring down on her, heating the tips of her fingers and the crown of her head, otherwise the rest of her body chilled.
“You called?” she scoffed. After speaking just those few words, she winced, scarcely stifling a groan. The throbbing in her neck was a cruel reminde
