Elle's heart pounded in her chest as she slowly awakened from the depths of unconsciousness. Despite her eyes remaining shut, a thick shroud of darkness engulfed her surroundings, fueling her fear and restlessness. An overwhelming sense of vulnerability consumed her as she attempted to move, only to find her hands held firmly in someone else's grasp.
Her mind raced with uncertainty, and questions flooded her thoughts. Who had taken her? Where was she? The absence of light played tricks on her imagination, intensifying her anxiety. But then, a voice reached her ears, gentle and familiar, cutting through the darkness like a ray of hope.
"Don Ralph?" she whispered hesitantly, her voice trembling, her throat scratchy and dry.
