silence of the lambs

CHARLOTTE

When I finally had enough energy to open my eyes, I was met with darkness and a violent headache.

Bile climbed up my throat quickly, hurried on by the odours that irritated my senses the moment I sucked in a breath.

I’d gag, but I felt like I was underwater, my reflexes weren’t mine and I couldn’t feel my limbs.

When I tried to see beyond the splotches of darkness in my vision, I failed miserably and only aggravated my headache.

I paused and gave my body a few minutes to relax. I still couldn’t feel my limbs and that sent panic rolling down my spine in an instant. My breaths became short, unconsciousness loomed over me, and darkness took over my vision for a moment before I could see again.

Breathe… I told myself.

And I did.

I sucked in a breath and released it, that was when I finally identified the pungent smell that clouded up the entire room, cigarette smoke.

I couldn’t move my head, but the way I laid gave me a somewhat okay view of the room around me. I was lying on