COOKIES

LUKE

Darkness swallowed me whole.

The water was frigid, cutting into my skin like shards of broken glass. I fought to find the surface, my arms thrashing through the black abyss. My chest burned, my lungs clawing for air, but no matter how hard I kicked. I couldn't tell which way was up. I was lost.

Panic wrapped around me like chains, dragging me deeper. The cold pressed in on all sides, suffocating and relentless. Jess's face flashed in my mind-her smile, her laugh, the way she looked at me like I was worth something. I'd never see her again.

The thought was more suffocating than the water filling my lungs.

I was drowning.

My chest seized, my heart pounding like a drum, faster, harder-until suddenly, everything stopped.

I jerked awake, snapping back to reality like a ripcord yanked too hard.

Air rushed into my lungs, sharp and hot, and I doubled over, my palms finding the wooden floor. It was cool beneath my palms and real. Rock solid and real.

My chest heaved as I fought to breathe, my skin slick with sweat.

17.560

COOKIES

288 Mouchers

inch of me trembled, the nightmare's icy grip

It was a dream.

my nose and blew out

face, trying to shake off the lingering echoes. of the cold.

warm, sweet smell.

Cookies?

the couch, so I made a mental note to drag Jess back to this couch for something other than sleeping. The reality of my surroundings settled in

This was home.

her

a spoon

me grin, and the tension in my chest eased a little. "I didn't mean to scare

"You didn't scare me okay, maybe just a little. But what are

COOKIES

288 Vouchers

cookies," I replied, leaning

her blue eyes sparkling with

I teased, arching

my T-shirts, although she's been wearing it a lot, it seems. Even with her pregnant belly, it's way too big for her, hanging off

asked, leaning over the dining room table. Jess blushed

balm. "If you want cookies for dinner, you can just say so-no need to

not a human incubator - well, technically - but that's not what you look like to me. I'd choose you over a chocolate chip cookie any day..."I

The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

Comments ()

0/255