SHADOWS OF THE PAST

Chapter 19

Shadows of the Past

My eyes fluttered open, adjusting to the dim light filtering through the room. Silence pressed in from all sides, broken only by the steady hum of crickets outside. I shifted slightly, and a sharp pain radiated through me, a vivid reminder of the fight I’d barely survived. Every inch of my body ached, as though I’d been trampled by a stampede. I took a deep breath, wincing, and tried to steady myself.

The quiet suddenly broke with the sound of footsteps. Then, I heard a soft voice call out my name.

“Elena.”

I looked up to see Liam standing there, his gaze filled with worry—and something else I couldn’t quite name. He stepped closer, his eyes never leaving mine.

“How are you feeling?” he asked, his voice gentle.

“Like I got hit by a truck,” I replied, forcing a smile despite the sharp pain that followed each word.

A hint of amusement softened his face. “You look like it too.”

Rolling my eyes, I felt warmth in his teasing. “Thanks for that reminder. Can w