Chapter 260: Fractured Reality

Talia I woke to the unsettling, rhythmic sway of movement. It took a moment for the fog in my mind to clear, but when it did, confusion hit me like a cold wave. Where am I? My head pounded, and the light above me was harsh, making me wince. I tried to sit up, but my body felt heavy, sluggish, as though weighed down by something invisible. I looked around, blinking rapidly, trying to make sense of my surroundings. The walls around me were close, too close, and unfamiliar faces stared down at me. Panic began to claw at my chest as I realized that nothing was familiar. Not the place. Not the people. And… my son. Where is my son? The question screamed in my mind, and I struggled to find my voice. But when I opened my mouth, only a croak came out, barely a whisper. "Where… where is he?" My voice trembled, but I needed to know. My heart thudded in my chest, each beat more frantic than the last. A man in the corner, his face partially obscured by shadows, stepped closer. He had dark, g