*****
Tchaaa—!
Lyrium's eyes flew open at the sharp sound, a jolt of urgency surging through him. In a single breath he snapped upright, muscles tensing as if every nerve had been yanked awake.
"Eyy, eyy, eyy!"
Ren exclaimed in surprise as he shot up from his chair, rushing forward to stop Lyrium before he could take another step.
"W-Where…where am I? What is this place?"
Lyrium shouted, his voice cracking with confusion and panic. His mind felt like a storm-tossed sea, every thought colliding and scattering as he spun in place, eyes darting to the unfamiliar walls, the strange shadows, the air that felt too heavy, too wrong.
"This isn't, this isn't anywhere I know. Why can't I remember how I got here? What happened to me? Someone tell me what's going on!"
"Hey, hey, hey, Lyrium, Lyrium, Mate, listen to me!"
Ren's voice rang out urgently, cutting through the chaos like a lifeline. He stepped closer with his hands raised in a calming gesture, his own heart pounding.
