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.
pain, Ava. Just wake
No way.
in this
have to come back. This is not
me? But I'm here, in this serenity of darkness. I feel pain,
won't die, Ava. You're
Alive.
Alive means death—
enough. Wake up. Stop feeling sorry for yourself. You never
* * *
sandpaper scraping against my lids. Everything is blurry, shapes indistinct. White. Harsh
Ava.
Her voice is warm honey in my mind, comforting. Grounding. I try to speak but my throat is parched,
my palm. The slight weight of her head resting on my hand. I turn my head slowly, painfully. She's there, silver fur shining, blue
awake. Relief colors her
my tongue heavy and thick.
my arm. I want to protest but exhaustion drags me
name, but I'm already
* * *
of a heart monitor. The chemical scent of disinfectant. Starched sheets rough against my skin. An IV pinches
swims into focus—white tiles, fluorescent lights. A hospital. Selene is curled up beside me, a comforting
back. Her relief washes
asking me questions, one talking over the other.
was I out?" I rasp, my
softly. We were
Lucas asks, way too close
are you feeling?" Lisa pipes up, from my other
and uncooperative. Selene helps, bracing her body against mine, and both Lisa and Lucas rest their hands on my back to lead
an entire process that leaves
upright, I take stock. My limbs feel stiff, atrophied. A needle pinches my hand, connected to an IV pole with a few bags hanging off it. One
waist. My hair
cautions as I waver, dizzy.
I ended up here.
hole
"What happened to me?"
fingers hesitant and gentle against my skin. Warmth flows between us, a feeling of comfort,
wolf is trying to emerge. Do you
to shift, to run beneath the 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
way too big for
soothes, sensing my unease.
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
The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!