Chapter 8
Noah
Rain pounds down from the sky at a deafening volume. The drops are everywhere, yet I am not wet.
I look up. There is nothing there.
Where am I?
I reach for the ground beneath my feet, feeling damp blades of grass and soft mounds of moss. And a hand.
It is cold.
Although I immediately look down, I can't see anything.
No one is here.
But I still feel this arm, so heavy that I can barely lift it.
A metallic scent creeps into my nose. It finds its way into my mouth. Disgusted, I wipe my lips, and my fingers become slick with moisture.
It’s blood.
And suddenly, it’s everywhere. Above me, below me, beside me, and on me.
The dark red dominates my field of vision.
Muffled as if wrapped in cotton wool, I perceive a pulse.
A heartbeat. Once again, I look down.
Once again, no one is there. I have to help!
The dim throb grows fainter.
Beside me, someone sobs. "N-no pulse."
Relentlessly, I hear the rain falling.
"I think she’s dead," a woman’s voice whispers.
Dead, dead, deadechoes within me, and suddenly, everything is silent.
No. She can’t die!
I must finally see what’s happening here. How else can I save her life?
With a piercing scream, I open my eyes.
My surroundings are pitch black. Sweat trickles down my temples and soaks into my hair. Just a moment ago, my mouth was filled with blood, and now my tongue sticks dryly to my palate. Quickly, I reach for the cold hand, but all I feel is warm fabric. What is this?
Don’t think. It’s over. That’s all that matters. Groaning, I turn to the side and sink into the darkness.
***
A shrill ring pierces my eardrums.
It’s an alarm clock.
