Bound in Silence

Valerie’s POV

The first thing I felt was the itch on my nose. Just a small one. Annoying. Right at the curve where the bridge met my cheekbone. I didn’t think much of it, just raised my hand to scratch without thinking—but my arm didn’t move. My wrist jerked a little, stopped cold. There was a sound, low and metallic, like rusted chains dragging. And that’s when I knew.

I opened my eyes, slow. The