Chapter 76 The Fake Hero

• The first thing that slams into me as I claw my way out of unconsciousness is the sharp, chemical stink of a hospital.
• My brain feels like it’s been dragged through mud, incapable of forming coherent thoughts. My memories are foggy. I have no clue how long I’ve been here or what the hell happened. My breaths come out shallow, weak, and when my hand shakily grazes my head, I hit the edge of a thick bandage. The ache beneath it isn’t sharp—it’s this deep, gnawing throb, like my body knows something my mind can’t piece together.
• Time stretches and collapses, seconds bleeding into hours, or maybe days—I can’t tell. Then, I hear Meera’s faint voice cutting through the haze. “Natalie,” she calls, and my eyelids drag open. Her gasp hits my ears, her face crumpling as tears spill over. “You’re okay,” she whispers, her voice trembling with relief.