Chapter 112 Ava: Waking Up
Darkness.
Light.
So cold.
It burns.
My lungs ache.
Something's holding me down.
There are whispers. Prayers, I think.
Chaos reigns in this hazy world. Something beeps incessantly.
I'm sweating. My hands are too warm.
… up.
What's that?
… Ava, you…
Who's that?
… can you hear me?
I struggle to reach the voice that calls me, but something sucks me away again.
Frustration simmers, but I'm too tired to fight it.
Ava, you have to wake up.
There it is again.
I know you can hear me, because I can finally hear you.
Hear me? Hear me what? Am I talking?
Yes.
No, I don't think I'm talking. I'm too tired. My body is crushed beneath the earth. Fire ate every last bit of me. I drowned. The air was sucked away.
You're alive. You're asleep in the hospital. You're just fine. You just need to wake up.
No, no.
No, no, no.
Waking is pain.
I remember the pain.
Just wake up.
No way.
here, in
have to come back. This is not
place for me? But I'm here, in this serenity of darkness. I feel pain,
die, Ava.
Alive.
Alive means death—
Wake up. Stop feeling sorry for yourself. You
* * *
feel like sandpaper scraping against my lids. Everything is blurry, shapes indistinct. White.
Ava.
comforting. Grounding. I try to speak but my
my hand. I turn my head slowly, painfully. She's
Relief
tongue heavy and thick. "What happened?" The words scrape
into my arm. I want
calling my name, but
* * *
a heart monitor. The chemical scent of disinfectant. Starched sheets rough against my skin. An IV pinches the back of
force them open. The ceiling swims into focus—white tiles,
relief washes
Lisa are here. They're asking me questions, one talking over the other. It's painful to my
I rasp,
whines softly. We
okay?" Lucas asks, way too close
are you feeling?" Lisa pipes up, from my
and uncooperative. Selene helps, bracing her body against mine, and both Lisa and Lucas rest their hands on my back
an entire process
hand, connected to an IV pole with a few bags hanging off it. One of the bags looks like milk, and that one's connected to yet another IV line in
around my waist. My hair is lank
Selene cautions as I waver, dizzy. You've been through a
mind back, trying to piece together how I ended up here. Training with Jericho and Lisa. Collapsing on
yawning black hole in
"What happened to me?"
fingers hesitant and gentle against my skin. Warmth flows between us, a feeling of comfort,
sure. Vanessa thinks your wolf is trying
idea fills me with trepidation. I flick a glance toward my wolf, disguised as a husky for a reason she has yet to explain, and her ears flick as she licks my face, settling into my lap as though she's a lap
not. She's way too big for
be afraid, Selene soothes, sensing my unease. This is natural
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
The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!