Mazelina heard voices around her as she opened her eyes. They burned like her nose and throat and lungs. Her mouth was dry and she felt as if she had been ran over by a truck. All in all, she felt horrible.
When her vision cleared, she saw Anju, Rudi, Shiba, little Lilly, a female that was Lilly's mother, and a male she didn't recognize. She sat up, making everyone look at her with surprise. She tried to speak, but nothing came out, so she pointed to her throat. Rudi grabbed a glass and handed it to her full of water. She drank greedily before clearing her grimy throat and asking, "Turk?"
"He'll be along shortly," Anju said. "He is helping the fire department with information before returning."
Mazelina looked to Lilly. "How are you?" she asked, noticing how the little girl's eyes were big and intense.
