Chapter Seventy One

Matt

Pain radiated throughout my head. I tried to open my eyes, but the world was fuzzy and began to spin uncontrollably. I blinked, trying to clear my vision, but if anything, it made my sight worse. Thud, thud, thud. My head pounded away. I was lying face down; something damp was pressed against my body. I splayed my fingers out, feeling around me. I wasn’t in my cell. Where were my shackles? Pan was still dormant, though. If the silver was gone, where was Pan? Why wasn’t he back? I inhaled deeply; the overpowering smell of damp soil and leaves invaded my senses, causing me to wince as the thudding in my head struck again. Pain ran down my spine, like a wildfire, as I tried to push myself up, but I groaned as I clasped my neck, falling back to the soil. What had Kroll done to me?

“Iris…” I murmured as I tried to sit up again. My whole body felt as heavy as lead, and every slight movement sent my head spinning. Nauseous washed over me from the tip of my toes all the w