Chapter 43 : Whiplash

I wasn’t in my bed.

Honestly, I had no idea where I was, but it wasn’t good. There was a pit in my stomach as the scent of smoke filled my nostrils. My senses were bombarded with ‘not safe.’ A trickle of warm blood crawled down my face as I slowly opened my eyes to take everything in.

The first thing my gaze locked on was a dancing flame. It illuminated what I registered as a forest ground before me. Letting out a soft groan, I tried to move only to realize my hands were tied behind my back. Unfortunately, my legs suffered the same fate, as I realized I couldn’t move them, either.

I was forced here into a kneeling position, a cloth shoved into my mouth so that I couldn’t scream. The world around me swirled and rocked. It was impossible for me to get an idea of what happened or why.