Chapter 27: Inside & Out
Melody seemed to hear her name and turned in their direction. Her face was marked with tears.
"M-Misha...? Bran...?"
Misha and Bran rushed forward as one.
"Is she...?" Misha started to ask when they had arrived before the girl.
Bran crouched, seemingly thinking along the same lines as Misha’s unspoken question. "Melody, what do you remember before being here?"
"Before? I don’t..." Those frightened eyes darted around, seeing invisible horrors. Misha didn’t know when it had happened, but those sterile grey walls had become darker around them, and their surfaces were no longer smooth but spiked.
"Just before this," said Bran, waving a hand in front of her face to get her attention, "were you in the hospital?"
"The hospital...?" A spark of recollection lit up Melody’s eyes. "Coral... she’s..."
"Right. You’re next to Coral right now, aren’t you," said Bran. "You’ve just fallen asleep while sitting next to her, huh?"
"I’m asleep..." Melody repeated. Her breathing was more regular now. "Of course. This has to just be a dream..."
Around them the walls became lighter and smoother. Misha glanced at Bran, wanting to ask whether this dream belonged to Coral or to Melody but thought better of it. Even if Melody thought this was a dream, let her know so much about the paranormal was probably not a good idea. Or was it? Misha had no idea. He decided to make a mental note to ask Bran about it later.