Chapter 36 Into The Abyss

• Dysis awoke gradually, like surfacing from profound depths, her mind weighted and her body slow to respond to her needs. The antiseptic aroma of disinfectant penetrated her nose, pungent and synthetic. Soft beeping entered her ears, a cadence that connected her to reality, even as her thoughts lingered elsewhere. She blinked at the bright light, narrowing her eyes until figures started to take shape in her sight.
• A figure was positioned close by, calm and collected. Initially, he appeared as a shadow, but soon the features became clearer: spectacles resting on his nose, a novel grasped in his hand, and a slight crease on his forehead as his gaze moved over the text.
• Lucian.