When my body jolted awake, the first thing I noticed was the rough ground beneath me—damp earth and scattered leaves pressing against my skin.
Not again, I thought as panic rose in my chest.
I blinked rapidly as the towering trees around me blurred into my view. I was in the forest again, no doubt.
I scrambled into a seating position, the dried leaves beneath me crinkling with my frantic movement.
My hands flew to my hair, clutching at the strands tightly as my fingers trembled. My eyes darted around the clearing, trying to piece together the puzzle of how I had ended up here — again.
My breathing was shallow and uneven.
"Why… how?" I stammered under my breath, my voice cracking with disbelief. My chest heaved as I spun, searching for any clue that might ground me in reality.
A voice interrupted my spiralling thoughts.
"You're awake."