Sid threw the empty bottle aside. His heart pounded unevenly, the beat too fast, too strong. He grabbed the rail and pulled himself up, his arms straining as his whole body trembled from the effort.
The old wood groaned under his weight, threatening to give way. His right knee throbbed with every small bend. He glanced down at it, sweat dripping from his chin.
"What? Did the painkiller not take effect, or is the instant release bugging out? Argh!"
He hissed and slammed his palm against the rail as another wave of pain shot through his side. sharper this time, like a sting. He groaned, clutching the spot where it hurt.
"Ha? Why is this bleeding… did I hit something?"
Blood was seeping from his side, just above his hip. Then everything shifted. The air grew cold, a rush of wind striking his face. He blinked against it and froze. The stairs were no longer wood. They were metal. Red steel, cold under his hands. The sound of the cabin was gone, replaced by howling wind.
