33

~Vaela

As consciousness creeps up on me again, my mind scrambles to piece together the fragments of memory that are missing.

Splitting pain rears up in rolling waves, assaulting my head as my eyes flutter open.

I was hit. And now I’m splayed across a wooden floor, limbs aching in protest.

Raising my gaze, I scan the unfamiliar room I’ve been discarded in, spotting a person sitting at a table close by, back to me.

I’m dead. Or I’m dreaming.

Either way, my world is ending.

It can’t be him. I haven’t seen him in decades, but last time I did, tears were streaming from his eyes as he paced back and forth, yelling at me. My gaze was pinned to the knife in his hand, that would end my life swiftly only moments later.

It’s Trace. I once loved him. And he murdered me.

I lean upward, bracing myself up on my elbows. "What...What the-"

He turns around immediately, discarding whatever he was doing.

"Vaela, you're awake,” he murmurs, striding over to me.

Dropping my head, I squeeze my eyes shut past