Kari’s eyes fluttered open. She squeezed them shut against the bright light and held still until the pounding in her skull eased enough for her to breathe. Her shoulders throbbed and her back ached. When she tried to shift, something held her in place. She took another slow breath and opened her eyes, blinking against the glare.
It took her a moment to realize where she was. Sunlight poured through broken slats in the shed roof, cutting the dusty air into slashes. Motes spun in the beams. The place smelled of damp wood, mildew, and old grease. Broken furniture, rotting crates and rubbish filled the room. She was sitting in a chair. Her hands were bound behind her and her ankles were tied to the legs of the chair.
Her face felt wet. She tasted copper. Memory bled back in shards: Mark slam
