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.
no pain, Ava. Just wake up. Come back to
No way.
in
come back. This is
place for me? But I'm here, in this serenity of darkness. I feel pain,
die, Ava. You're
Alive.
Alive means death—
that's enough. Wake up. Stop feeling sorry for yourself. You never died. Wake.
* * *
feel like sandpaper scraping against
Ava.
voice is warm honey in my mind, comforting. Grounding. I try to speak
head resting on my hand. I turn my head slowly, painfully. She's there, silver fur shining, blue eyes bright with intelligence and
awake. Relief
swallow dryly, my tongue heavy and thick. "What happened?" The words
into my arm. I want to
name, but
* * *
returns gradually. The steady beep of a heart monitor. The chemical scent of disinfectant. Starched sheets rough against
The ceiling swims into focus—white tiles, fluorescent lights. A hospital. Selene is curled up beside me, a comforting
relief washes
and Lisa are here. They're asking me questions, one talking
I out?" I rasp, my throat raw
whines softly. We were
you okay?" Lucas asks, way too close to
Lisa pipes up, from
gut. I struggle to sit up, my muscles weak and uncooperative. Selene helps, bracing her body against mine, and both
entire process that
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 the
hospital gown, blankets pooled around my waist. My hair is lank and greasy against
waver, dizzy. You've been
I ended up here. Training with Jericho and Lisa. Collapsing on the couch. Then...
black hole
"What happened to me?"
against my skin. Warmth flows between us, a
know for sure. Vanessa thinks your wolf is trying to emerge. Do you
I flick a glance toward my wolf, disguised as a husky for a reason she has yet to explain, and her ears flick
not. She's way too
be afraid, Selene soothes, sensing my unease. This is
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
The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!