⸻ ᵂᴱᴸᑦᴼᴹᴱˑWhen the lights flicker on, the stench hits first—a sharp mix of bleach, rot, and
iron. Nine strangers wake in separate reclining hospital chairs, leather straps digging into their wrists. Above them, rusted surgical lamps hum weakly. Each person bears a metallic wrist tag with an
