When the world believed him gone, he was only waiting to rise.

——

The relentless beeping dragged at the edges of my consciousness, slicing through the heavy fog clouding my mind. My ear rang, a harsh, unyielding sound, echoing like a warning. The sterile scent of antiseptic clung to the air, mingled with the metallic tang of blood. I hated that smell. It clawed at my senses, anchoring me painfully to the room.

I tried to move, to stretch, but agony flared through my limbs like wild fire. My muscles refused to obey. Everything felt foreign, heavy, and distant. Then came the slow, stubborn effort to open my eyes.

At...