The dim light of the sun seeped through the cracks in the wooden walls, casting dim shadows across the room. The air was thick with the scent of damp earth, old straw, and a faint, metallic odor that clung near the stranger's bed. His eyes fluttered open, but as soon as his mind returned to consciousness, a wave of confusion hit him like a force. He tried to speak, but no sound came. There was only a hollow emptiness where his voice should have been.
Panic surged in his chest, and his fingers shot up to his throat. He felt smooth, cold skin, but no trace of his tongue. A cold wave of fear washed over him. His breath came in quick, shallow gasps, and, disoriented, he stumbled to his feet. His heart raced, pounding in his ears, as he tried to make sense of what was happening.
