Page 34 of Property of Bones

Like someone piled bricks on it in my sleep.

I blink into the dark, my thoughts swimming through sludge. Nothing feels real.

Am I dreaming?

No. Something’swrong.

The room shifts sideways. I try to sit up, but gravity’s cruel, and my limbs are jelly. My arms flop uselessly at my sides. My fingers aren’t listening.

I’m sweating. Cold. Clammy.

The kind of sweat that means danger.

I know that. My brain keeps shouting it, but everything else is whispering,shh, just close your eyes.

No.

I try to roll over. My heart stumbles in my chest. Too slow. Then too fast. Like it forgot the rhythm and is trying to catch up.

Panic claws at me. My breath is shallow, barely scraping in and out of my lungs.

Why can’t I breathe?

Get help. Call someone.

My phone.

Where’s my phone?

I paw at the nightstand, knocking over a lamp. A dull crash sounds far away. Like I’m underwater.

My fingers find the phone. The screen lights up and it’s blinding. Words spinning, shifting, sliding away before I can focus.

There’s a number. There’s always a number.An emergency number.

Three digits.

What are they?

My brain blanks. Iknowthis. Everyone knows this. But it’s gone. My thoughts are ice water, slipping through my hands.

Nine. Nine what?

Dammit, Sunny, THINK.

I scroll. I don’t know what I’m looking for. My thumb jabs uselessly. Did I call someone? Did it ring?

I don’t remember.

Jack.

Where’s Jack?

I whisper his name. I think I do. Maybe it’s just in my head. I see him as a hero.

Call Jack.I say out loud. At least, I try. Did it work? Is he coming?

The room tips again. My body slumps sideways, and the phone slides from my hand, landing somewhere on the floor.

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