In his dormitory room, Alaric was sleeping peacefully.
But then suddenly...
His eyes snapped open.
His chest heaved, pulling in air like he'd been drowning.
Sweat dampened his hair, stuck his shirt to his skin.
He sat up fast, the room spinning slightly around him. His hands clutched at his chest, fingers digging into the fabric of his shirt. The pressure there felt wrong. Like something was pressing down from the inside.
Oliver's bed across the room was empty.
Alaric swung his legs off the bed and stood. His vision wavered, the edges of the room blurring and refocusing. For a moment he saw—
"Something else. Somewhere else. Stone walls. Torchlight. Figures in chairs. Some in armor. And—"
He blinked hard and the image vanished.
His legs carried him to the window. He grabbed the frame and shoved it open. Cold air rushed in, hitting his face and chest. He leaned forward, bracing his hands on the sill, and sucked in deep breaths.
