Cecilia woke up with a pounding headache. Her body felt stiff, and the first thing she noticed was the smell of damp wood mixed with the pungent smell of the sea. As soon as her eyes opened, her vision was filled with darkness. She tried to move, but her wrists were roughly tied with rope. So were her legs.
There was only a small, thin crack where fresh air seeped in through the gaps in the rough planks. Her breath caught in her throat. It was only then that she realized she was inside a large barrel.
"Ugh!"
Panic immediately crept into her chest. She held her breath for a moment, trying to calm herself. Through the small gap in front of her, she could faintly see. It was dark. But the shaking of the floor and the distinct sound of creaking wood made her realize she was most likely in a storage room on a moving ship.
