***
Eris jolted awake. She held so very still, afraid that the slightest move might break the fragile image of her dream. For reasons she didn’t understand, that gray place was so…familiar. It was like she knew who those figures were, their names just escaping her.
That’s…what a dream is? Eris thought, And I finally had one? Sye always described it like where my mind goes when I read, except filled with bits and pieces of memories. What memory do I have of some gray realm of shadow-people?
She didn’t know what to feel. Excited? Happy? Scared? In all the things that had happened, this was the last thing she expected. Especially after-
“Who did this?” Zook whispered.
“Who did this?” Zook screamed, slamming his fist against the wall, “Who did this to you?” He struck the wall over and over again in a mindless rage.
“Who took you away?” He hit the wall again and pressed his forehead against the surface, his eyes squeezed shut to stem the flow of tears. He struck the wall once more weakly. “Why did you leave me?” he asked, his voice shaking with grief. He slid to his knees, his opened hands against the wall like a dying man in prayer.