ARIA
The shaman's voice was the last thing I heard before everything went black.
"Wake up, Aria. Keep the fire burning!"
I jerked upright, my eyes wide with fear. I wasn't in the white room anymore. I was in a…forest. I blinked back the haze clouding my vision, wiped the sweat off my forehead with the back of my palm, then rose slowly.
"Where am I?" I croaked, looking around once more, hoping I'd find something. A landmark, anything, to tell me where I was.
But nothing. I could only see swaying trees and shrubs as I observed the pitch-black forest.
Taking in a deep breath, I let it out slowly before moving from the spot I stood. Only a step forward, I paused in my tracks, hearing rustlings behind me. I stilled. My skittered, and terror slowly crept into me as I felt another presence behind me.
