Ava struggled against the harsh glare of the fluorescent lights as she slowly forced her heavy eyelids open, her vision blurring as she tried to adjust to the unfamiliar surroundings.
The sterile scent of antiseptic filled the air, mingling with the faint hum of machines nearby. As her eyes finally focused, she found herself lying on a cold, rigid hospital bed, the crisp white sheets tucked neatly beneath her.
Panic flickered across her face as she took in the stark, clinical room — the pale walls, the medical equipment lining the corners, and the faint beeping of monitors that seemed to echo her racing heartbeat.
A deep frown crept onto her brow as she struggled to piece together how she had ended up here.
Her mind raced, grasping for fragments of memory. The last thing she clearly remembered was stepping out into the fading daylight, the cool evening air brushing against her skin, and then, without warning, a sudden wave of dizziness and weakness had overtaken her.
