Seraphina woke slowly to the sound of quiet voices outside her hospital room. At first, she did not open her eyes. She stayed still beneath the pale grey blanket while her mind adjusted gradually to consciousness. The dull ache in her shoulder returned first, followed by the soreness in her wrist, then the memory. She recalled the sound of the vehicle door and Lucien's voice that followed.
Her breathing slowed carefully, but the emotional weight still sat heavily inside her chest.
A male voice spoke quietly beyond the partially closed door. "We already restricted external access to the floor."
That was Elias.
Another voice answered calmly. "Double the rotation anyway. No predictable patterns."
Lucien.
Seraphina opened her eyes slowly toward the dim hospital room.
