Evaline:
Darkness.
That was the first thing I woke up to. Not warmth, not safety, not relief, just... darkness.
My breath hitched before I was even fully conscious. My body tensed instantly, my muscles locked, and my heart slammed hard against my ribs like it was trying to break free.
No.
No no no-
The air felt wrong, too cold, too still... too familiar.
My chest tightened as the memories came rushing back all at once - silver chains biting into my skin, the suffocating weight of the cave, the way the darkness had swallowed everything until I couldn't tell if my eyes were open or closed...
And his voice - soft, mocking, too close.
My breath came out in a broken gasp.
"I-"
My throat burned and I realized I couldn't breathe. I couldn't-
My eyes flew open, and yet, darkness still greeted me. Though it wasn't completely dark as there a dim light somewhere, faint enough that shadows stretched across everything, but my mind didn't care.
It was enough to send me spiraling.
