Strax woke up with a start, a crushing weight on his head and a stabbing pain spreading through his body. His surroundings were blurred, as if he were still in a trance. He blinked several times, trying to clear his blurred vision and understand where he was.
The first thing he noticed was the soft sound of quiet breathing. He took a deep breath and concentrated, forcing his mind to clear. The pain in his head worsened with every movement, and he squeezed his eyes shut, trying to stay calm. Something was wrong. He tried to remember the last few moments, but everything seemed blurred, like a dense fog that wouldn't go away.
When his eyes finally focused, he realized that he was lying on a bed, covered only by a crumpled sheet. His body was immobilized with pain, a strange tingling sensation and heaviness in his legs, especially below the waist. He tried to move his legs, but all he felt was a paralyzing numbness.
