I wake up and sigh. My headache is still there, worse than before. It’s like I’ve had a constant headache since coming here. I reluctantly venture to lift my arms, finding myself able for the first time since… that. Rubbing my eyes, the pain gets so much worse. But my eyelids are crusty and awful, so I welcome the clean feeling once I wipe them clear. I prop myself up, managing to sit up. I still have that god awful corset on, since I knew I couldn’t take it off.

I reverse blink, opening my eyes for just a second and then slamming them shut. I don’t know why people think winter is dark, the snow makes winter blinding. I shade my eyes, covering them with my hand. When I open them again, it’s similar to the feeling you have when you’ve had your eyes open for too long, and you’re trying to close them. It sorta burns, and you don’t want to keep them closed, but if you open them you have to start all over again. It’s like that, but the opposite.

My eyes burn, my head spins, and I can barely breathe. What did she do to me? My vision is blurry, and I can barely keep my eyes open. Blinking rapidly, I try to clear my vision. The light hurts, so I completely cover my eyes, so that if I open them all I’ll see will be the inside of my hand. Good news, I can see that blurry orange red light that comes when your hand is in front of the sun. Bad news, that means I’m trying to open my eyes into the sun, and I just don’t have the motivation to turn around.

Pushing my hair away from my neck angrily, I sigh when it falls back with a thump. I don’t have any hair ties, even if I did have one, I would’ve taken it off in the baths.

“Admirable, really.” The voice comes from my right, as though it expects me to know it's there. It’s probably that lady again. Who else has such a compelling voice? “I didn’t expect you to be up so soon. You’re a strong one.”

Her voice is intoxicating, all I want to do is hear more. The least heartfelt compliment from her overshadows every compliment I’ve received in my life, from my parents, friends, or otherwise. I want to open my eyes, even more than I did before. I want to remove my hand, the hand that’s protecting my eyes. I want to see her again.

“Are you uncomfortable? I must have overlooked that… I’ll send someone over. But only if you’re a good girl… you can do one thing for me, can’t you?” She pauses, as though I could speak. As though I could vocalise anything more than a sigh. Her voice seems to come closer, and yet it gets softer. “Won’t you open your eyes... Wren?”

My eyes snap open, and I can feel the sun burning them, scorching them, and I want to close them so badly, but I can’t. She’s there, her eyes boring into mine, and I feel the tears streaming down my cheeks.

It hurts, but I can’t stop. The world is blurry, and filled with pain. And she’s the only thing I can see.