“Wake up, girl.” The voice cuts through the fog of sleep, firm but gentle. “Come on now, wake up.”I jolt upright in the trunk, gasping and immediately doubling over with violent coughing. My lungs burn as I struggle to catch my breath, each cough tearing through my chest like fire.“Easy there, breathe slowly,” the voice continues, clearer now. “Focus on my voice, Aurora. In and out, nice and steady.”The shock of hearing someone speak directly into my mind triggers another wave of coughing, but gradually I manage to slow my breathing. Small, desperate gulps of air that slowly become more controlled.“That’s better. You’re doing fine, sweet girl. No need to be frightened.”My body relaxes back into the makeshift bed, confusion washing over me. I’m still exhausted, but there’s a strange calm settling in my chest that wasn’t there before.“Who are you?” I whisper aloud, even though every word she’s spoken has been inside my head.“You already know the answer to that, Aurora. I’ve been
Last Updated : 2025-07-23 Read more