I woke up to a world of white, the brightness of the surroundings temporarily blinding me. Blinking rapidly, I tried to make sense of my surroundings, the voices in the background blending into a cacophony of sound. “She’s awake.” “Oh my god, she’s awake.”

I blinked again, trying to focus on the figures around me. Faces swam into view—familiar faces, filled with concern and relief. It was Ace and Alex. But where was I? What had happened? My mind felt like a foggy maze, with pieces of memories that refused to fit together.

My throat felt dry and scratchy, as if I hadn’t spoken in ages. “Wh-where am I?” My...