Noah woke slowly, the world around him swimming in a blur of pale light and pain.
His eyes fluttered open, and the first thing that hit him was the feel of his own body.
Every muscle he had ached, his bones felt heavy, and even breathing was agony.
He tried to move, but a sharp, searing pain tore through his chest, forcing a groan from his lips.
"Calm down, Noah."
The voice came softly from the left, steady but tired. He recognized it instantly. Professor Cecilia.
He turned his head weakly towards the sound, his vision clearing just enough to make out her silhouette.
She was seated by the window, light spilling across her hair.
When she rose and stepped closer, he saw her clearly. She had bandages wrapped around her neck and arms, with faint bruises tracing her jawline.
"You're awake," she said gently, setting a glass of water on the bedside table. "Don't move too much."
