Chapter 48 : Awakening
*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 I had been so helplessly trapped within.
“Ember,” a familiar voice said from somewhere above me. “Hey, it’s okay. You’re okay.”
Slowly, the figure above me swam into focus. With a sigh of relief, I recognized the intense features and dark hair of Alec. The sight of him instantly calmed me, though my heart was still racing wildly against my chest.