Sally's POV
Consciousness returns slowly, like swimming up from deep water.
Dawn's pale light filters through the curtains, casting everything in soft gray tones. My mind feels foggy, scattered. Then the memories crash back all at once - the vision, the terror that gripped me, Karl's panicked voice calling my name. He must have brought me upstairs after Dick examined me.
The bedroom carries the comforting scents of my mates - cedar, clean soap, and something uniquely theirs. Around me, I can hear their steady breathing. Karl's arm rests heavily across my middle, even in sleep his body seeks to protect me. Philip's fingers are intertwined with mine on my left side, his protective instincts never fully at rest. Sean's silhouette is visible at the foot of the bed, while Ajax keeps watch near the window, his outline dark against the morning light.
I savor these quiet moments, this rare peace after yesterday's chaos. But then the vision returns with razor-sharp clarity.
