Alexander
I remember hearing Kayden’s blessedly familiar voice, but it was distant and echoey. I couldn’t make out what he was saying.
It was a whisper, I thought at first. But no—he was just very far away. He was shouting… but he was too far off for me to hear.
I tried to reply, but couldn’t speak. Couldn’t even move my lips.
I couldn’t even open my eyes.
I really tried to pry them open. It was nothing doing. I had no strength left in my body. Not even enough to lift my eyelids.
I wanted so badly to wake up. To get up. To keep fighting.
But I was just so tired, so very, very tired. And cold. And sore. And… numb…
And then, all of a sudden, a white-hot, shocking blast of extreme pain wrenched me all the way awake and I was all at once completely, agonizingly aware of reality.
Real
