Merciless Awakening

When Aria finally surfaced from the dark fog in her mind, the first thing she noticed was the antiseptic smell of the hospital and the too-bright ceiling staring back at her.

For a moment she felt disconnected from her own body, as if the ache in her limbs belonged to someone else.

Then the sting in the back of her hand reminded her that she was hooked up to an IV, and reality snapped back into pl