The Other

The shadow wouldn’t let go. It didn’t care if it dragged Elexa down and so it did. She felt some part of her lapped by the flickers of white and it chilled her to the bone. Nothing good could exist here.

Elexa never thought fire could be cold, but that was her last thought as something jerked her from its freezing grasp. Pain filled her along with a strange rush of air. Bright lights surrounded her. People spoke loudly and machines beeped.

“She’s back,” someone said to her left.

The room blurred. Her body wouldn’t move, wouldn’t respond. She wanted to get up, yet her legs wouldn’t work. Every muscle throbbed. Something warm ran down her leg.

“What’s happening?” she tried to say, but her words came out in a groan.

A small cheer went around the room. Elexa tried to lean up and see who was there but something kept her head from moving. From the corner of her eye she saw something and if she’d had the strength, she would’ve screamed. Standing just outside the door was Jacob. He didn’t look at her. His attention was drawn to something in the corner. Elexa couldn’t move her head to see what it was. She saw it move though and its silhouette looked strangely familiar.