Reyawokegroggily,herheadpoundinglikeadrum.
Sheopenedhereyes.Darknesspressedinonherfromallsides.Whenshetriedtositup,shediscoveredherwristsandankleswerebound,stretchedwideinanX-shapeacrossamattress.
"Isanyonethere?"
Hervoicecracked,echoingintothevoid,swallowedbytheicywindseepingthroughunseencracks.Thechillsankdeepintoherbones.
Memorybledbackinfragments:thebreakroom,Julianslumpedbeneathher,thepullofhislife-forceasshesiphonedhimdry.Thenthedoorslammingopen,Julian''ssuddenburstofstrengthasheshovedheroff.Herheadstrucksomethinghard,andeverythingwentblack.
Thebackofherskullstillthrobbed.Shemusthavehitthecornerofatablebeforepassingout.
Theenergyshehadstolenwasstillinsideher,restlessandunassimilated,leavingherfeverish,weak,anddizzy.
Shetookadeepbreath,tryingtosteadytheuntamedenergyswirlinginsideher.Butwhetheritwasfrombeingunconsciousfortoolongorthefeverragingthroughher,herbodyrefusedtocooperate.Theenergywrithedlikeantsonahotiron,desperatetofindanescape,threateningtotearherapartfromwithin.
Justonemoreminute—ifshehadheldonforonemoreminute,Julianwouldhavebeencompletelydrained,hissoulextinguished.
Butshehadbeenfacingawayfromthedoor.Sheneversawwhoentered.AfterJulianshovedher—wherehadhegone?Wasithimwhodraggedherhere?Ortheintruder?
Shelayboundinsilence,timestretchingunbearably,untilatlastasoundbrokethestillness:adooropening,closing,andthenfaint,deliberaterustlingjustoutside.
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