Slowly, Vernon opened his eyes, squinting as he adjusted to the sterile lights of the room. The scent of antiseptic hit him immediately, sharp and clinical, almost stinging his nose.
He sat there for a moment, trying to ground himself.
'Where am I?' Vernon wondered. The cold sheets, the soft beeping sounds nearby. It was all unfamiliar.
"What happened to me? Why am I in the hospital?" The man mumbled, his voice barely audible.
Vernon rubbed his temples, trying to recall his last memories before finding himself here. His mind was foggy, yet gradually, the pieces began to come together, like an unsettling puzzle he wasn't eager to solve.
Then it struck him, a violent, dizzying memory of Jaxon's relentless attacks flooded his mind, making him instinctively clutch his side, where a dull ache still throbbed.
