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 mouseā¦"
