42| Toxin or Panacea

The first sound she heard when she felt conscious again was a shrill, loud sound that seemed to come from inside her head rather than around her.

The second thing she felt before hearing Tina's panicked voice was a splitting headache that felt like a large ax had been driven into her head. She began to cry out as the pain intensified.

"She's awake!" Someone cried beside her and touched her face with shaky hands. "Oh, Santa Maria! She's awake!"

"Step away from her," Another voice, more profound and firmer, came. She suddenly felt a different presence beside her. One she couldn't recognize but was unable to wrap her head around. And what was that familiar fragrance? Musk? Wood?

Balia was slowly lifted from the floor into solid and firm hands. She couldn't tell what was happening, and whatever she tried to say came out in muffled sounds. She couldn't make up coherent words.

She felt the body move, heard the creak of a door and the echoes of boots thudding against the ground, and soon, sh