Stella's POV
Darkness surrounded me as I opened my eyes, which seemed strange since I felt completely rested, as though I'd slept for hours. A part of me wished I could remain asleep for days, hoping to wake up and discover that yesterday's horror had been nothing more than a bad dream. But the harsh reality remained – what happened was undeniably real.
Every time I closed my eyes, I could still feel Patterson's revolting touch on my skin. The fear that had formed a tight knot in my throat when that monster attacked me hadn't fully dissipated. Though I tried not to dwell on it, I knew exactly what would have happened if Adrian hadn't arrived when he did. I had no idea how he found me or how he knew where to look, but he reached me just in time to prevent the unthinkable – he saved me.
