Evaline:
Darkness didn't fade all at once. Instead, it crept away slowly, reluctantly, like it didn't want to let me go.
The first thing I felt was the weight.
It pressed down on me from all sides, heavy and suffocating, as if my own body no longer belonged to me. My head throbbed dully, each pulse dragging me further out of whatever deep, unnatural sleep I had been trapped in.
Cold came next.
This wasn't the gentle chill of winter air or snow beneath my boots - no. This was different.
This was biting, sharp, and unforgiving. It seeped into my bones, wrapped around my limbs, and refused to let go.
A weak breath left me as my consciousness sharpened just enough for awareness to begin forming.
Everything felt… wrong.
Too heavy.
Too slow.
Too cold.
And wet.
The dampness beneath me soaked through my clothes, sending a violent shiver through my body. My skin prickled and my muscles protested even the smallest attempt to move.
