Valerie's eyes snapped open with a startled gasp, his heart racing in his chest. He jostled up to a sitting position, disoriented and breathless, only for gentle hands to reach out, attempting to nudge him back down onto the bed. He looked around with frantic eyes, struggling to make sense of his surroundings.
"Easy, brother. Easy," a familiar voice reassured him, its tone a soothing balm to his disoriented mind.
It was Andre.
"Where am I?" Valerie tossed aside the sheet and sat up, unable to lie down anymore.
"You should calm down first," Andre told him, a concerned look in his eyes.
Yet those warnings were lost on Valerie, whose mind was already beginning to piece things together, "This is your place," Andre affirmed, recognizing his surroundings.
