NIKLAUS
"Niklaus! Niklaus!"
That's Lester's voice. He's here.
But why can't I open my eyes? Why can't I move? My limbs feel like dead weight, my chest tight, burning. Everything is loud and silent at the same time—like I'm drowning in my own body. Then I feel hands gripping my shoulders, trying to pull me up. My fingers twitch. With what little strength I have, I latch onto his wrist, dragging myself back from the edge.
"The pills," I croak, barely audible.
Lester doesn't waste time. A second later, I feel the bitter taste of the pills on my tongue, then the cool rush of water. I swallow, gasping like I've just surfaced from the depths of something dark and brutal. Slowly, painfully, the fog begins to lift. My breathing evens out—slightly—and the world becomes less of a blur.
"Nils?"
