Air, he needed air. His mouth was covered by a cloyingly sweet-smelling rag. His lungs burned and his head pounded as he desperately tried to breathe. The choking only got worse to the point of hyperventilation. The spots in front of his eyes grew alarmingly bright as he tried to remember where he was. But there was one thing that scared him more than the agonizing burns covering his torso. He didn't know where he was, why he was there, or who he was. Strong ropes cut into his wrists, as he struggled to free himself. 

Realization hit him in the single name stood out in the chaos. Oralie. Where was she? Was she okay? He would get them one day for this. He struggled for a little longer until he heard a voice. It gave him icy chills, yet still radiated raw heat. A voice he had hoped to never hear again. He frantically went limp and closed his eyes, hoping it would sell the illusion of sleep. But to his immense dismay, the voice still addressed him.
"Welcome back, Kenric."