ARIA’S POV
“Aria, you need to wake up,” a voice said far off in the darkness. I stood alone in the middle of a dark room, lit only by a tiny ceiling fixture, flickering as if on the verge of death.
I was dressed in black robes, an emblem emblazoned on the chest. My fingers were cold. My bare feet padded on the soft carpet. I stared at the only door, its dark brown hinges glinting like bronze.
I tried to take a step forward, but my legs were like jelly. It took me a long time to take even one measly step. As I struggled against the invisible force slowing down time, my sense of urgency grew with it.
The room was freezing, but my palms were sweaty. Unlike my body, my heart was moving faster than a speedboat, crashing through the waves of despair flooding my insides.
“You must escape the
