dining room. A crystal chandelier cast a

at down. Her stomach rumbled loudly. The fever had burned th

stepped forward. She placed a folded

ss," the maid

viar, surrounded by thin crackers and a smear of crème fraîche. Next to the plate was a

spoon. She scooped up a cluster of the b

her mouth. The eggs popped. A burst of in

wave hit the base of her sk

freezing cold. The pressure against her skin was immense,

lls. Suddenly, a massive, rough rope net slammed into her. The coarse fibers dug into her flesh. Panic ex

ds gripped the edge of the heavy oak t

rd wooden deck. The air burned her lungs. A shadow loomed over her. A sharp, freezing pain sli

from Ava's fingers. It hit the p

in cold sweat. Her chest heaved violently

d forward, her eyes wide wi

e brine mixed with the phantom sensation of blood. She slap

o her knees in front of the marble toilet. Her stomach violently contracted. Sh

e toilet. She pulled herself up using the edge of the marble si

y. She looked at herself in the mirror. Her skin was

n. The pain was too spec

ace, and walked back to the dining roo

t," Ava

up a silver spoon. Her hand trembled slightly. She scooped up a piece of

er skin turning instantly rigid. The excru

e edge of the table and squeezed her

d at her hands. She had brough