Beyond the room, a heavy door opened and closed. Footsteps echoed along the passage, followed by a low exchange between two guards.
Maya remained unaware of any of it.
It was only when the effects of the drug began to wear off that she stirred again. Her fingers moved first, followed by a slight shift of her shoulders. A dull ache throbbed behind her eyes, and her mouth felt dry. She tried to lift her head, but the movement made the room spin, forcing her to close her eyes for several seconds.
"What...?"
Her voice emerged as little more than a whisper.
She tried again, this time more carefully, opening her eyes to examine her surroundings. The room was unfamiliar, its walls bare and its lighting dim. There was no sign of the taxi, no familiar street outside, and no indication of how far she had been taken from Ashbourne Estate.
Maya's confusion quickly gave way to alarm when she attempted to move her hands and discovered that her wrists were restrained.
