Thirty-Six

ELLIS

BOOM.

Sound ceased to exist.

Everything went white.

The only thing left was falling, falling, falling.

Arms around me squeezed tightly.

Someone cried. Several someones. All around me was an endless chorus of sobs and howls.

Smoke was everywhere, curling into my lungs and invading my senses. I couldn't breathe, I couldn't—

A cool cloth fell over my face, wiping the soot from my cheek and allowing me to breathe through the wet fabric over my lips, but it didn't feel like my lips. Something was wrong with my teeth. Something was wrong with my body.

Soothing words fell into my ear, and my body relaxed.

I felt … consumed. Large.

Sleep. Time to Sleep.