I crawled through a gap in the tree branches, but a particularly cruel branch twisted into my back and scraped up my spine. Stumbling to my knees in a puddle of black ooze, I pushed my lips together so I wouldn't hiss in pain or revulsion.

The sting at being skinned alive brought tears to my eyes and blurred the world into a carnival ride with blue lights. Oh, how I wished that was what I walked toward. Once I shoved myself to my feet, I swiped at my face, and reality shifted ...