Kieran's POV
The sound of chains rattling against the metal bedframe echoed louder than any war cry I've ever heard.
It cut through the sterile air like a scream through silence.
But the real scream came after, raw, guttural, soaked in agony.
Lorraine's scream.
And goddess… I thought I was ready for it. I thought I was prepared for whatever came out of her when she woke up.
But I wasn't.
I stood there, rooted at the foot of the bed, watching as she jolted awake like something had snatched her out of a nightmare and thrown her into a worse reality.
Her chest heaved. Her eyes were wide, wild. Confusion flickered first… then horror. And then, the moment she tried to sit up and felt the weight of her chains, the panic arrived. I tried to explain to her, why this was necessary but she didn't even listen
"No! No!" she thrashed, yanking at the restraints, one arm, two ankles, and the stump of her missing limb wrapped in layers of clean gauze. Her voice tore at the air. "Let me go!"
