ARIA'S POV
When I woke up, it felt like my entire body was wrapped in a fog. I blinked slowly, trying to focus, but everything around me was a blur.
The sterile smell of antiseptic and the faint beeping of machines were the first things that registered. And then, the pain hit.
A dull, throbbing ache spread throughout my body, and I realized I couldn’t move. My limbs felt heavy, weighed down by something tight.
As I glanced down, I saw that I was wrapped in bandages—so many bandages. My body looked like it had been mummified.
Where am I?
I tried to speak, but the moment I opened my mouth, a sharp, intense pain tore through my throat. I swallowed, wincing as the dryness scratched at my voice box. No sound came out. I felt helpless and confused.
My heart pounded as I took in my surroun
