10

10.

Miranda's head was pounding and her vision was blurry as she slowly regained consciousness. Her eyes struggled to adjust to the dimly lit room, but as they refocused, she was able to take in her surroundings.

She realized she was still bound to the chair and was in what looked like a storage room. The walls were lined with shelves filled with various tools and equipment, and the only source of light came from a small lamp on a nearby table. The room had a musty smell, and the air was stale and damp.

As Miranda's eyes traveled around the room, they finally landed on Derek, who was sitting in front of her with a grim expression on his face. He looked up as he noticed her stirring and stood up, walking over to her.

"Good, you're finally awake," he said in a tone that dripped with sarcasm.

Miranda groaned in response, still feeling groggy and disoriented. "Where am I?" she asked, her voice raspy.

"You're in a safe place," Derek replied, his tone still tinged with hostility.

Miranda r