The darkness was suffocating. I couldn't tell how long I'd been out, but my head felt like it was being crushed in a vice. My vision blurred as I slowly regained consciousness, the dull thrum of pain in my temples spreading across my skull. I tried to move, but my limbs felt heavy, unresponsive. I blinked rapidly, trying to focus on anything, but everything was spinning.

I finally managed to sit up, the motion causing an immediate wave of nausea. The room around me was dim, lit only by a single overhead bulb that cast long, crooked shadows across the walls. I could hear the faint sound of breathing in the room, and the air felt thick-stale.

Panic flooded my chest as I looked around, trying to make sense of where I was. I was no longer in the café. The walls were bare, the room cold and uninviting. My pulse quickened as I realized I was alone, but not alone at the same time.

I tried to speak, but my throat was dry, the words coming out weak. "Hello?"

No response.

I shifted on the floor, my body aching as I slowly stood up. The world was still spinning, but I refused to collapse. I had to get out of here. I had to find out what was going on.

I moved cautiously, testing the walls for any sign of an exit. That's when I noticed it-the door. It was cracked open just a few inches, the faintest sliver of light escaping through the gap. My heart skipped a beat.

I slowly approached the door, the sound of my own heartbeat deafening in the silence. With a deep breath, I pushed the door open, just wide enough to peek through. What I saw made my blood run cold.

The woman. She was standing at the far end of the hallway, her back turned to me, but I could see the faint outline of her silhouette against the dim light. She didn't seem to notice me yet.

I took a few steps back, my heart racing, then turned quickly to search the room for something-anything-that could help me escape. My gaze landed on a small window in the corner of the room. It was too small for me to fit through, but it was something.

I rushed over to it, trying to pry it open, but it was locked tight. Desperation started to claw at me, but before I could try to break the window, a voice rang out from behind me.

"You're not going anywhere."

I froze. That voice-the same cold, commanding voice. I turned around slowly, my body stiff with fear.

The woman was standing right there, blocking the door. Her expression was calm, almost bored, as if she had all the time in the world.

"You drugged me," I said, my voice shaky, trying to hide the panic that was rising in my chest.

She didn't respond immediately, just studied me for a long moment, her eyes unreadable.

"You don't understand," she said finally, stepping closer. "You're part of something much bigger than you think."

"What the hell are you talking about?" I demanded, taking a step back.

"You've been chosen," she said quietly, her voice almost soothing, like she was telling me something comforting. But her words sent a chill down my spine. "You've been marked, and there's no going back now."

I opened my mouth to respond, but before I could say anything, the woman moved closer. Her presence was suffocating, as though she were the very air around me. I instinctively backed away, but there was nowhere to go.

"What do you want from me?" I whispered, panic bubbling up.

She smiled-a small, twisted smile that made my stomach turn. "I just want to keep you safe. From them."

"Who?" I almost screamed.

"The ones watching you," she said, her tone sharp. "The ones who don't want you to know the truth."

I didn't have the strength to argue. I was exhausted, my body and mind breaking under the weight of it all. I had no idea what was happening, but I was beginning to understand one thing: I was in way over my head.

"Where's Ava?" I asked, desperate. "Why isn't she here?"

The woman's expression darkened. "Ava is irrelevant."

My heart sank. If Ava wasn't involved, then who was? Who had set this whole thing in motion? And why me?

Before I could ask more questions, the woman stepped back, her eyes hardening. "You'll learn soon enough. But for now, you need to stay put."

With that, she turned on her heel and disappeared down the hallway, leaving me alone in the dim, cold room.

I collapsed onto the floor, my back against the wall, my mind spinning with questions. I was trapped in a nightmare, and I had no idea who to trust, who was lying, or who was telling the truth.

But I needed answers. And I wasn't going to stop until I got them.