Thomas’s eyes fluttered open, and everything around him was hazy and distorted. His head throbbed with an intense, relentless ache, as if a hammer had been pounding inside his skull. The distant wail of sirens echoed faintly in the background, muffled and indistinct, as if he was underwater or trapped in a fog. His body felt heavy, unresponsive, and yet he was painfully aware of every ache and twinge.
His hands were bound tightly behind his back, rough ropes biting into his wrists, and he instinctively tried to move—only to find himself sprawled on cold, uneven pavement. The rough surface scraped against his skin, and a thin layer of dampness clung to his clothes, making him shiver. The alley was eerily silent save for the muffled sounds of sirens and distant city life, but he knew bette
