I woke up gasping.
My eyes flew open as I shot upright in bed.
For a few seconds, I had no idea where I was.
My heart hammered against my chest.
I looked around frantically.
My room.
My bed.
My curtains.
My desk.
The familiar pile of clothes I'd abandoned on the chair that morning.
Home.
I was home.
I pressed a trembling hand against my chest and tried to slow my breathing.
"Inhale…"
I took a shaky breath.
"Exhale."
Another.
My heartbeat refused to cooperate.
I looked at the clock beside my bed.
I had no idea how long I'd been asleep.
The last thing I remembered was sitting on the floor of my room, crying until exhaustion finally took over.
Then…
Harold.
Charity.
The cave.
The forest.
Emily.
The creature.
The words carved into the tree.
DON'T LET HER LOOK BEHIND YOU.
I shuddered.
"Just a dream."
I whispered it aloud.
"It was just a dream."
But the words didn't feel convincing.
Not anymore.
I slowly climbed out of bed.
My legs felt strangely weak.
