The high-pitched scream and darkness ended when Tess ripped her eyes open. Her first deep breath filled her chest, and she became aware of every inch of her body lying on the soft bed. The high ceiling focused through her eyes. She remembered well the darkness that crawled over everything before turning pitch black. And the pain...
Were those recent memories from a nightmare? Somehow it felt familiar, but she couldn't pinpoint why it was. She didn't have any illness, and since she was alive it couldn't have been a mutation.
"You're awake."
Lanse's deep voice settled in her ears and wiped her thoughts away. She leaned up and tucked her hair behind her left ear to see him. When she remembered the scab she needed to hide, she pulled it back to fall into her face. Since she was in the infirmary after a mission, she didn't doubt they did a chemical cleanse on her body.
