ALLISON
My scalp tingled as fingers combed through my hair, the touch impossibly gentle.
What was going on? A strange haze had settled over my mind, making thought a slow, syrup-like process.
I was sprawled on the ground, my head resting on what felt like a warm lap. The sounds of nature floated around me, birds chirping, the soft rustle of leaves, and the faint, melodic rushing of a nearby river. The smell of fresh grass tickled my nose, and my confusion only grew.
Where was I?
Hadn’t I been in the cell?
The hand sifted through my hair again, and my body unwittingly relaxed, a strange calm washing over me. I found myself leaning into the touch, starving for the tenderness I hadn’t felt in years.
Confused, I blinked my heavy lids open, intent on figuring out who this person was. A h
