At some point, I left behind the physical for the dream—for another world, another dimension, whatever it was.
Bobo seemed to be barking or talking, others to be shouting.
It all slipped from my grasp, beyond my reach.
The dream claimed me entirely.
My own heart stopped.
The vessel that was my body unfurled like a blooming flower, releasing my essence.
The lightning storm that had raged within me calmed.
My soul floated free toward its source—the same for humans,lushina, anddrash.
29
Blink, Blink, Blink the Fuzz Away;
the Red Was Here to Stay
Griffin
It took major effort to wrench open my eyes, then everything was a watery red. I stared up at a red ceiling. I blinked. Blinked. Blinked. Still red. A filter over everything.
Someone was moaning. Someone else was yelling.
Blink, blink, blink.Red.
“Joss,” someone was saying. “Honey, come back to me. Come back to me now.”
Fuck, it was Reece.
Sit up, Griffin.My arms twitched, that was it.
Get the fuck up.My arms jerked but didn’t obey.
Someone, maybe Reece, was crying. Others were whispering. Some were moaning more, grunting.
I tried to sit again, managed to move a tad, then collapsed back onto my head.
Motherfucker! That hurt!
“Griff, son…” my dad was saying from behind me. “Don’t move. Whatever you do, stay still.”
“Joss,” Reece cried. “After everything, not now.”
I flopped onto my side like a fish.
“Shit,” my dad snapped. “Stay still, dammit.”
Blink, blink.The fucking red wouldn’t go away.
On my side, my head was way too fucking heavy. A pulse thudded through it. Pain, it was all pain.
More blinking. I saw Layla’s legs. Next Brady. Hunt.
Then I sawher.
