Ava's POVMy eyes flickered open moments later, and a groan escaped my lips, accompanied by a scrunch of my nose at the persistent stench. No matter how many times I found myself in this situation, I never seemed to get used to it and I prayed for darkness to consume me once again.Unfortunately, the bliss of unconsciousness hadn't embraced me yet; it lingered just out of reach, a cruel tease.I dangled on the precipice of awareness, my grip slipping like a fraying thread. The room swayed, and a dull ache pulsed through my head, blurring the edges of my surroundings. Each breath became a burdensome endeavor, and a relentless wave of dizziness engulfed me. I clutched at my chest, a feeble attempt to steady the erratic beats of my heart."Fifty, fifty-one, fifty-two, fifty-three," I mumbled in a weak voice, counting as if the numbers could anchor me to reality. Draped on the cold ground, I fought to regain control, but it was slipping away like grains of sand through desperate fing
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