Consciousness came back to Ned like a slap to the face, his eyes snapping open to a room he didn't recognize. Sunlight streamed through vast windows, catching dust motes in its beam, and for a moment, everything seemed peaceful. Then he tried to sit up.
BANG!
His forehead connected with something solid – and surprisingly warm. "Ouch!" came a high-pitched yelp, followed by his own grunt of pain. As his vision cleared, Ned found himself face-to-face with a girl who looked like she'd stepped straight out of a dollmaker's dream.
She was rubbing her forehead, lips pursed in an exaggerated pout. Everything about her seemed deliberately crafted for maximum cuteness, from her perfectly coiffed hair to the tips of her polished shoes. Even her frown looked practiced.
"Watch it, you big lummox," she muttered, though there was more amusement than anger in her tone.
