For several seconds, Damien remained completely still on the cold concrete floor, unable to make sense of the strange sensation spreading through his body. He had no idea what had just happened or why he could suddenly feel something moving beneath his skin.
The sensation had begun as a faint warmth somewhere around the center of his chest, so subtle that he had initially mistaken it for the lingering heat caused by the beating he had just received.
However, the longer he remained still, the more clearly he could feel it. The warmth gradually spread outward from his chest, flowing through his shoulders, arms, abdomen, and legs in a slow, steady current.
It wasn't painful. In fact, it was the complete opposite.
There was something strangely refreshing about the sensation, almost as though his entire body was being washed from the inside.
After days of exhaustion, humiliation, and physical pain, the unfamiliar warmth felt almost comforting.
