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.
will be no pain, Ava. Just wake
No way.
here, in
have to come back. This is not where
darkness. I feel pain, but
won't die, Ava. You're
Alive.
Alive means death—
that's enough. Wake up. Stop feeling sorry
* * *
scraping against my
Ava.
comforting. Grounding. I try to speak but my throat
hand. I turn
Relief colors her
heavy and thick. "What happened?" The
She nuzzles into my arm. I want to protest but exhaustion drags me under
name, but I'm already
* * *
The chemical scent of disinfectant. Starched sheets rough against my skin. An IV pinches the
into focus—white tiles, fluorescent lights. A hospital. Selene is curled up beside me,
Her relief washes
and Lisa are here. They're asking me questions, one talking over
out?" I rasp, my throat raw
whines softly.
Lucas asks, way too close
feeling?" Lisa pipes up, from my
up, my muscles weak and uncooperative. Selene helps, bracing her body against mine, and both Lisa
process that leaves
A needle pinches my hand, connected to an IV pole with a few bags hanging off it. One of the bags looks like milk, and that one's
pooled around my waist. My hair is lank and greasy against
waver, dizzy. You've
my mind back, trying to piece together how I ended up here. Training
hole in
"What happened to me?"
fingers hesitant and gentle against my skin. Warmth flows between us, a
your wolf is trying to emerge. Do you feel
moon. To be whole. But now, with all the strangeness surrounding my heritage, the 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
not. She's way too big
sensing my
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
The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!