396 King

Darius woke up with a long, raspy groan.

His head felt like it'd been stuffed down a vise.

Like someone had taken a nail and screwed it in his brain, then twisted as much as they could.

As soon as his gaze stabilized, a well decorated room met his squinted gaze. 

Bright walls. Clean. Unmarked and newly painted. His bed — an actual bed — was perfectly ironed, even as he awoke.

Strange.

Darius wracked his head, but his memories were hazy. Like he'd awoken from a long dream, except he had no recollection of what it was about.

He sat up, lingering there for a bit, a pensive look on his ashen face.

Something's wrong.

Darius squinted his eyes, trying to delve deeper into his head. 

What was he forgetting?

What was he—

The door opened, and a woman with lustrous, auburn hair and bright almond eyes held the handle. 

"Morning, sweetie," she said with a slight smile. "Sleep well?"