They bit into his bare flesh when he tried to move, causing panic to rise like bile in the back of his throat.His shoulder ached, as did the entire right side of his body. It felt as though he’d been thoroughly pummeled and he was willing to bet he had the bruises to show for it.Forcing himself to thrust away the flash of anxiety building behind his temples, Nathan concentrated on attuning all his senses to his surroundings. Keeping his eyes closed to fool anyone who might be watching, he focused on making out scents and discerning noises, which proved tougher than he’d expected.He’d spent six months in Zone 99’s laboratory. In his nightmares, he could still smell the acidic stench of the disinfectant they used to keep the odor of blood at bay. This place, however, didn’t have the aroma he expected. In fact, it smelled… pleasant. Sweet, like the perfume of wildflowers.The infernal beep of heart monitors was missing, too. Nor could he feel wires coming out of his chest or arms, which told him he hadn’t been hooked up to anything.
