Lila woke up choking on her own breath.
Darkness pressed around her from every angle, thick and wet and metallic. Her head pounded so violently it felt detached from the rest of her body, every pulse behind her eyes arriving half a second too late. For a moment, she couldn't tell where she was. Couldn't tell if she was lying down or standing or dead already.
Then cold metal dug into her forehead.
Bars.
The realization came slow and ugly.
A cell.
A dim yellow light leaked through somewhere overhead, too weak to fully reach her. It caught against puddles on the floor and old stains that looked darker than rust. The place smelled like mold, sweat, and something medicinal trying its hardest to hide the rot underneath.
Lila swallowed hard.
Pain exploded through the side of her skull.
That fucking crowbar.
The memory snapped into place all at once.
Harry.
The alley.
Adrian—
Her eyes widened instantly.
The haze vanished from her expression so fast it was almost frightening.
