My eyes flutter open to a bright sharp light.  I quickly clench them shut again.  I try to move, but all my limbs feel dull and heavy.  I open my eyes again, slowly.  There are gleaming lights above me, that burn my eyes as I look at them.  I squint, and move my mouth a little.  My lips move over my teeth and gums, my tongue stretches in my mouth.  I breathe in deeply through my nose.  I try to say a word and all that comes out is a dull breathy sound. 

I was going for "Hello"

I think to myself. 

Where am I?

I wonder, in afterthought.

 I rack my brain for memories.  All at once it comes flooding into me.  Boston, Sherin, Jim, School, Computers, Trinity, the warehouse, Morpheus, rats.  I swallow. 

Suddenly the painful light is blocked by a silhouette.  "He's awake." Says a warm deep voice that I can't recognize.

I try once again, to speak. 

"Heeeeeeeehhhh" I manage.

"Shhh." The man says, his hand on my head.  "It's alright. You're doing fine."

Then, I hear Morpheus's voice.  "Is he already conscious?"

"Mmm!" I say urgently, frustrated that I can't articulate.

"It's seems like it," the other man says, Morpheus's silhouette joining his above me.

"Mmmooohh," I try again.

"Peace, Em. Peace." Morpheus says "I'm here."

I feel panicked though.  What's happened to me? Where am I? Where's Sherin? What day is it?

All these thought buzz through my mind and I can't find a way to say it.

Suddenly I feel fatigued. My eyelids are heavy, and I struggle for wakefulness. 

"Calm down, Em.  You'll have answers soon." Morpheus says gently.

I breathe deep and my eyelids fall.

Conversations drift through my mind.  I can't tell if I've somehow dreamed them or if I'm hearing them in a half sleeping state.

"He's small isn't he?  How old is he?"

"Fourteen."

"He looks so frail. Like a little mouse…"