I regained consciousness slowly, as if I were surfacing from an ocean of darkness. A dull pain throbbed at the back of my skull, and every beat of my heart seemed to amplify the suffering. I opened my eyes with difficulty, blinking several times to clear the blur obscuring my vision. The first thing I noticed was the acrid smell of mold and rusted metal that permeated the air, making me grimace.
I tried to move, but my limbs were restrained. My wrists and ankles were tightly tied to a chair, the bindings biting into my skin. The room I was in was dimly lit, the dilapidated walls and dust-covered floor adding to the oppressive atmosphere. A cold shiver ran down my spine, and I fought not to succumb to panic.
