Chapter #9 It's in the Blood

With consciousness came pain. A crippling searing pain that originated from his forehead and traveled in pulses throughout his entire body like rings from a pebble dropped into a puddle of water. He wanted to touch his forehead, but found his limbs so heavy he could barely move.

Harry brushed his fingers against the cold, rough pebbled surface on which he was lying and the movement, although slight, caused a rush of pain so intense, he moaned out loud. The sound reverberated through the darkness. He stilled and listened. Fearful of what could wait for him in the dark. He could see nothing. He listened intently, but the only sound he could hear was a steady drip of water, the sound almost musical. Drip, drop. Drip, drop.

"Sssllllleeeeeeeeeeepppp," breathed a disembodied voice from the darkness. Exhausted, and unable to help himself, he fell into a deep painless sleep.