Time had lost all meaning as Annelise Valentine's consciousness plummeted. It was like falling down a deep, deep well, surrounded by darkness, with only the THUMP-THUMP of her own heart.
'So be it,' she thought.
'I'm too tired. I can't hold on anymore.'
But just as she was about to close her eyes and let herself sink, a beam of light suddenly shone in.
It was a brilliant light, piercing the gloom. It was so bright she instinctively tried to shy away, but she couldn't move. She couldn't escape it, nor could she open her eyes.
But the weight on her body was gone.
The Buddha statue that had been pinning her down for who knew how long seemed to have been moved. Her body felt light, as if floating on water.
Then, something pressed against her lips.
It was moist.
Water. Water was flowing into her mouth.
Her throat swallowed instinctively, like parched earth finally receiving rain. She wanted to drink more, but she barely had the strength to swallow.
Someone was calling her name.
