Hayden’s POV.
The sounds around me rippled like a distant tide, drawing me towards consciousness, yet remaining shrouded in an impenetrable darkness. My limbs felt as if they had been dipped in lead, the weight of my immobility pressing down on every inch of my being.
I tried to open my eyes, to force the lids to part, but my efforts were in vain. The silence within me was deafening, my attempts to form words or even the slightest movements were met with only resistance. The noises were growing louder but I just couldn’t make out what they were saying.
With a herculean effort, I managed to nudge my left finger, a tiny spark of hope flaring in my chest. Taking a deep breath, I gathered every ounce of strength I possessed and pried my eyes open, the harsh light assaulting my retinas like
