Dani:
I woke up in agonizing pain. My head was pounding like a drum, every throb sending sharp spikes of disorientation through my skull.
Stars danced in my eyes, and my stomach churned, causing me to gag before I could even get my wits about me enough to know what was going on.
My arms were numb, useless, as I realized I was hanging—tied to the ceiling of some filthy warehouse from the moment I managed to force my eyes open around the dried blood caking on my lashes.
The cold, damp concrete pressed against my bare feet, the grime sticking to my skin. I couldn’t help but shiver at the sensation. I swayed slightly, barely able to keep my balance. My legs were as useless as my arms, barely scraping the floor.
My arms were bound so tightly that I could feel the ropes cutting into my
