Crash from Portal Seven

 "Tom."

He heard someone say his name, but it sounded hollow, like an echo coming down a long tunnel.

"Tom!"

There it was again. Louder this time. A sharp pain splintered across his mind, and that seemed to do the trick. Groaning and blinking through squinting eyes, he woke up.

"Dude, are you all right?"

Max. It was Max.

"Come on. Help him up."

Hana.

Tom felt hands grip him by the arms and haul him off the floor, setting him down on a soft bench. Every time he opened his eyes, all he could see were things spinning and rocking back and forth. His mind felt like a pack of termites had been set loose inside for lunch. And the nausea . . .

"I gotta throw up," he whispered.

"Not on me, you don't," Max said. "Hurry, let's get him out of here."

They grabbed him by the arms again. He heard a door open and felt refreshing cool air wash over him as they helped him stumble outside the portal.