I must have fallen asleep sometime between fear and exhaustion. One moment I was staring at the ceiling, counting the shadows that looked like eyes, and the next, the world had shifted beneath me.
At first, there was only mist. Thick and cold, curling around my ankles like smoke. My body felt light, too light like it didn't belong to me anymore. I tried to move, but every sound was swallowed by the fog. Somewhere in the distance, a low whisper carried my name.
"Ellie."
The voice was old, ancient, even. It wasn't cruel, but it was heavy with something that felt like warning. I turned toward it, though I couldn't see anything beyond the veil of grey.
"Who's there?" My voice echoed oddly, bouncing back to me as if the mist itself were mocking my question.
"Do you wish to go home?" the voice asked again, closer this time.
My breath caught. "Home?"
