#Chapter 88 – The Examination

I gasp when my eyes fly open, hauling breath into my lungs as if I’ve just broken out of a pool of water. I immediately sit up, panting, staring around at my unfamiliar surroundings. And my first thought, absurdly, is that I’m in the dream state – Because this – this is not the dorm room that I was in with my friends ten seconds ago. No, as I look around I realize that I’m in the woods now. But it takes me a few moments and blinks to realize that these are not the dream woods in which I meet Luca – but real woods. And it’s dusk, which is absurd, because it was just night time, but why… My instincts come back to me in bits and pieces and I curl my legs beneath me, ready to get to my feet as I look warily around, trying to figure out what the hell is going on here. My body feels sluggish and tired, but I would swear that moments ago I was drinking a toast with Daphne – Daphne, who I suddenly remember betrayed us. But why!? I dart my eyes around, trying to figure out my surroundings