It starts with a distorted voice, barely audible over the intense ringing in your ears. Attempts of moving are futile due to your body being too weak; a strong, aching pain apparent despite the numb feeling over you.

There is a mass over your lower half, one heavy like a blanket of steel, pinning you down. But it’s hard to focus on that — on anything, besides the figure looming above you, the overly familiar one calling out your name in a distressed voice.

It was Nikolai…