*Ember*

My eyes snapped open, and it felt as though I was awakening to the world for the very first time. My heart pounded in my ears and I could feel panic crawling up the back of my throat. I wanted to scream, but when I opened my mouth, no sound came out.

Two large, warm hands gripped my shoulders firmly but gently. It was only then that I realized that I had been thrashing around, as though my body had been trying to free my mind from the shadowy dream realm that ...