ARIA

The feel of someone jerking the chains wakes me.

It's Ray.

Seeing his face fills me with fear. I don't like the look in his eyes. I can smell liquor on his breath, and my first thought is that he wouldn't be this close unless he had bad intentions.

"Up, Little Nocturn," he says. He's not slurring, so he can't be that drunk. "Get up before I make you."

I decide to stay put. There's no way I'll actively participate in whatever it is he wants to get into. My disobedience makes anger ...