I woke up with the sunlight pouring out in the entire room, warming my bed and me. The golden rays filtered through the heavy curtains, casting long shadows that danced faintly across the floor. Memories flowed back in my head, fragments of the night before swirling like a dark mist. My heart pounded unevenly in my chest as I wiggled a little and bolted up from the bed. A bit frightened, I scanned my surroundings—familiar yet alien in its quiet stillness. I looked some more but there was nothing bizarre other than the overly tousled bedsheets, twisted and tangled from restless sleep. The beast was nowhere to be seen.
Slowly, I brought my shaking fingers to my neck, feeling the cool, smooth skin beneath my fingertips. Other than the tender soreness that pulsed faintly, I didn’t know whethe
