Allecca woke disorientated. She knew not where she lay, but only that it was white and fluffy. It felt like what Allecca had imagined a cloud would feel like, if it weren't full of water. Slowly getting to her feet, Allecca looked around at her new surroundings. In every direction, whiteness prevailed. Her earlier idea of lying amongst clouds seemed not so far fetched now, as she saw that it did indeed appear to be cloudlike. But unlike a cloud, it left Allecca sticky, and no amount of wiping would remove the residue of white sap all down her body. Shrugging, Allecca began to wander through her new surroundings. Everywhere she went, the clouds looked the same, so much so that Allecca was no longer sure she was moving at all. She stopped for a moment, unwilling to continue what she believed to be a fruitless journey.
But after a while, she gathered her strength and opened her eyes, only to find a spiral staircase, very similar to the one which had caught her in her fall into the abyss. The hospital seemed so very far away now, a distant memory from long ago. This made Allecca wonder how long she had been gone, but the hospital had taken her watch long ago. The only thing she could do was step onto the staircase, only to have it stutter into upwards motion. As it spiralled upwards, Allecca heard a booming voice address her.
"Allecca, you have done well. Your strength of will and courage of perseverance have enabled you to do what many others have not been able to- sacrifice their comfort for their goals. You wanted to be back home. But alas, I am unable to fulfil your desire at this moment. Your other trials await." And as the voice died away, Allecca realised she was standing in her old hospital room again. Confused and frightened, Allecca stepped out into the hallway, where she would normally be able to find a nurse. But the corridors were empty, and there was a horrible, haunting cry echoing around her. Now more than a little frightened, Allecca tiptoed through the darkened halls, following the plaintive howls. At last, she found a room with an open door, and she could hear the cries for help issuing from within the doorway. Bracing herself, Allecca entered the room to find a scene she had never thought to imagine.