CHAPTER 99

I woke up with a gasp, choking on air as if I had been drowning in my sleep. My chest burned, my lungs struggling to take in enough oxygen. My hands clutched at the fabric over my heart, my pulse erratic, hammering against my ribs.

The room spun violently, the lingering traces of the dream clinging to me like cobwebs. My skin was clammy, sweat trickling down my temples, sticking my hair to my face. My breath came out in ragged, uneven bursts.

A soft, concerned meow reached my ears.

I blinked, trying to focus. One of my cats rubbed against me, nudging my arm gently, its warmth grounding me for a moment. I tried to push myself up, but the dizziness slammed into me with the force of a wave, and the world tilted. My legs buckled before I could even find my balance.

I collapsed, the cold floor meeting me in an unforgiving embrace.