chapter sixty-six

[ IN WHICH SHE DISCOVERS THE NEW THREATS ]

My eyes slowly peel open and light floods in. For the first few seconds, I blink rapidly, trying my best to get used to the feeling of being awake. My head throbs, making me aware that I have pushed myself to the limit; exhausted myself beyond how my body would like. Who knows how long I have been unconscious for and how many dead souls made it through the gate?

With my eyes partly opened, I notice a few things.

The first things I recognize is a white ceiling, and with heavy eyes, I move my head to see several artifacts and then, my eyes spot golden curtains that block the light rays from seeping in.

But what my eyes do not spot is a human sitting beside me on the bed.

"You are up."

My heart rate picks up at the sudden sound of a female's voice. I snap my eyes to the left to see a woman sitting beside me on the bed; a strange woman; a woman I have never seen before.

Startled, I jerk up from the mattress, hurriedly moving away from her.