The next time my eyes fluttered open, the haze of the fever had entirely slipped away, leaving behind a cold, brutal reality. I was still lying in the exact same spot on Mason’s couch, wearing the same crumpled, ruined work clothes from days ago. My skin was drenched in a thick, profound sweat that made my blouse stick uncomfortably to my ribs.
The cabin was pitch-black, save for the eerie, distant glow of the city skyline filtering through the floor-to-ceiling windows. Mason was nowhere to be seen. His laptop was closed, and his heavy leather chair sat empty.
With a trembling hand, I reached into my pocket and pulled out my phone. I pressed the power button, but the screen remained stubbornly black. Dead. I had no concept of time, no idea how many hours had slipped through my fingers wh
