I drifted back to consciousness slowly, my eyelids heavy as I fought to open them. A sterile smell filled my nostrils – the unmistakable scent of the university infirmary. The harsh fluorescent lights made me wince as I finally managed to pry my eyes open.
"Well, well, look who's finally awake."
I turned my head toward the voice, blinking several times to clear my vision. Julian Mercer sat in a chair beside my bed, his dark eyes watching me with curious intensity. My heart sank a little. Though I wasn't sure who I'd expected to see, I couldn't ignore the pang of disappointment.
"How long was I out?" My voice came out raspy and thin.
Julian checked his watch. "About three hours. You gave everyone quite a scare."
Memories flooded back – the storeroom, Rhys's cruel words, and then the excruciating pain that had torn through my body. I remembered grabbing Rhys's shoulder before everything went dark.
