Lexi's eyes fluttered open, then quickly closed to slits. Her vision blurred; her mouth felt desert dry like a bucket of sand. She needed water badly. Thinking of dill pickles, she smacked her lips together to produce as much moisture into her mouth as she could.She tried to focus but it still wasn't enough to get rid of the putrid aftertaste. The surrounding air was cold, and smelled like her grandma's stale air, as if the house had been closed for a while.

Her head pounded ...