Natasha’s head throbbed, the pounding as relentless as the nauseating bile that burned her throat.

Her eyelids fluttered open, but the blinding light above her forced them shut again.

Slowly, awareness returned, like an uninvited guest dragging the weight of horror with it.

She was lying on her own bed. But something was wrong.

Everything was wrong.

Her arms were stretched above her head, her wrists bound tightly to the headboard.

Her legs were similarly restrained, and panic surged when she realised she was completely naked.

Her muscles screamed as she instinctively tried to pull free, but the cable ties dug into her skin, unyielding.

“Finally awake.”

The sickly sweet,...