ROSE’S POV

The first thing I felt was pain. Sharp, electric, piercing pain. My body burned all over, every inch of me screaming, every nerve on fire like I’d been shattered into a thousand pieces.

I tried to move…tried to lift my arms, wiggle a finger—but nothing worked. Not an inch. Not a twitch.

Panic slammed into me like a freight train. What…what is happening?

I couldn’t open my eyes. My eyelids felt glued shut, heavy as lead. I tried again, harder this time, still nothing.

I heard voices.

Soft at first, whispering, almost gentle. Then closer, more urgent. I tried to focus, straining my ears, but everything was muffled,...