Chapter 12
The smell hit me first, strong, antiseptic, like an industrial strength version of the hand sanitiser Joyce made everyone use any time they entered her house. I forced my eyes open only to slam them immediately shut to block out the bright light streaming down on me. A pounding in my head made it hard to think, to remember what had happened. I swallowed and winced when the movement hurt my throat. I was so thirsty. I needed water and painkillers for my raging headache.
Where was I? What had happened to me?
I opened my eyes the tiniest bit, allowing them to gradually become accustomed to the light. Tears streamed from them as they slowly and painfully adjusted. When my vision cleared I gazed around me.
I was in a large room with white walls, strapped to a bed, just like the o
