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.
1. up.
What’s that?
… Ava, you…
Who’s that?
can you hear me?
I struggle to reach the voice that calls me,
but
15:30
1:10
112 Ava: Waking Up
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.
remember the pain.
will be no pain, Ava. Just wake up.
1. me.
No way.
15:30
2:10
Ava:
here, in this hazy
come back.
should be.
serenity of darkness. I feel pain, but it doesn’t kill
won’t die, Ava. You’re alive.
Alive.
Alive means death-
that’s enough. Wake up. Stop feeling sorry
***
eyes crack open. They feel like sandpaper scraping against my lids. Everything is blurry, shapes
Ava.
voice is warm honey in my
I try to speak but my throat is parched, voice
into my palm. The slight
15:00
3/10
Ava Waking
head slowly, painfully. She’s there, silver fur shining, blue
Relief colors her
thick. “What happened?” The words scrape
my arm. I want
name, but I’m already
***
of a
IV pinches the
focus–white tiles, fluorescent lights. A hospital. Selene is curled up beside me, a comforting warmth.
back. Her relief washes over me.
here. They’re asking me questions, one talking over the other. It’s painful to
16:30
W10
Waking Up
I out?” I rasp, my throat
disuse.
softly. We
worried.
Lucas asks, way too close to me.
feeling?” Lisa pipes up, from my other side.
me like a punch to the gut. I
mine, and both Lisa and Lucas rest their hands
entire process that leaves me
stock. My limbs feel stiff,
hanging off it. One of the bags looks like milk, and that one’s connected to yet another IV line in the elbow of my other arm.
waist. My hair is lank and
cautions as I waver, dizzy.
15:30
5410
Ava Waking
through a lot.
cast my mind back, trying to piece together how I ended up here. Training with Jericho and Lisa. Collapsing on the
happened to
my skin. Warmth flows between us, a feeling of comfort, and the urge to press my cheek into his
wolf is trying to emerge.
trepidation. I flick a glance toward my wolf, disguised as a husky for a reason she has yet to explain, and
not. She’s way too
sensing my unease. This is natural
15:31
6/10
Waking
been natural. Is
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
The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!