Episode 21

The sterile scent of antiseptic did little to mask the lingering metallic tang of old blood that Zee still tasted on her tongue. She lay back against the thin hospital pillow, the rough linen scratching at her raw skin. Each breath was a shallow, painful reminder of the night before, a night that had stripped away more than just her physical strength. It had chipped away at the carefully constructed walls around her heart, leaving it exposed and vulnerable.

Then, a voice, smooth as silk and chillingly familiar, slithered into her consciousness. It was the voice that had whispered threats, that had echoed in the silence of her terror. But now, it was different. It was laced with a disturbing tenderness, a possessive warmth that curdled her blood more effectively than any physical blow.

"Zee," the voice purred, as if they were lovers sharing a stolen moment, not a hunter and his prey. "You're awake. Good. I was worried."