ERIC POV
My eyes flew open as I jerked awake. A sharp gasp tore from my parted lips.
My skull felt like it had been split open with a dull axe. The metallic tang of blood coated my tongue, thick and coppery. Cold, damp earth pressed against my back, seeping through my torn shirt and chilling my skin.
Sharp leaves and twigs dug into me like tiny knives.
I tried to sit up. I managed halfway — then something yanked me brutally back down.
Blinking against the haze, I stared down at myself. "What the…" I wheezed, eyes widening in horror.
Thick, coarse ropes bound my ankles and wrists, pinning me flat against the forest floor. They scraped raw against my flesh, tightening like living serpents with every twitch I made.
Rough roots and jagged rocks ground painfully into my spine. I could barely move more than a few inches. My arms were stretched taut above my head, legs spread and secured. Completely helpless.
"What the fuck is this?" I whispered, voice hoarse and raw.
