Raven
The bitterness was overwhelming the moment it slid down my throat—sharp and acrid, clinging to my tongue in a way that made my stomach churn violently. I forced myself upright almost instantly, coughing harshly as my body tried to reject it, desperate to force it back out.
But it was already inside me.
Each cough burned, scraping against my throat as I struggled to breathe, my chest tightening painfully. My fingers curled into the sheets beneath me, gripping them as if they could steady me.
Then something shifted.
Through blurred vision and ragged breaths, I noticed Gessia had dropped to her knees.
I froze, my coughing easing slightly as confusion cut through the haze of discomfort. She was on the floor, completely still for a moment before pulling out a piece of black charcoal.
And then she began to draw.
