MADELINE
The ringing pierced through my sleep like needles driving into my skull. I groaned and buried my face deeper into the pillow, but the sound kept going. Relentless. Stabbing. My head throbbed with each shrill tone.
"Stop," I mumbled into the fabric.
It didn't stop.
My hand shot out from under the covers and grabbed the phone. I didn't open my eyes. Didn't check the screen. I simply swiped to end the call and held down the power button until the vibration told me it was off.
Silence.
Fucking finally.
I let out a breath and started to sink back into the warmth of sleep.
Then my body lifted.
One second I was horizontal on my mattress, and the next I was flying backward through the air. My back slammed into the wall hard enough to knock the wind out of my lungs. Pain exploded across my shoulder blades and I dropped to the floor in a heap.
"What the—" I gasped, trying to pull air back into my chest.
"How dare you!"
