Chapter 141. Awake

I gasp, inhaling a deep, almost vicious breath as reality crashes back in on me, shuddering my brain around my head, and I’m startled awake, back where I began, in the infirmary and gripping onto Colton’s leg for dear life. So disoriented as my vision returns to normal. I can hardly breathe for a moment and have to drag air into my lungs while I get my bearings and shake my head to clear my blurry vision.

“What the hell?” It’s an automatic response as I try to catch my breath, and Colton’s arm around my waist loosens as he lets me go a little. I guess he was holding me up, and I flop as I’m released, using my hands on my knees to bend forward and finally pull myself together. It all starts to fade, and the noises and smells of reality bring me back to clarity.

“That was a memory; I saw it too.” Colton’s voice is gravelly, as though he’s just as shaken as me, and I untangle myself from him and stand up. My body is spiking with unwanted tingles and feelings I can’t contain