The pain was continuous, riveting throughout her entire body from the tips of her fingers through each limb, up along her spine and through her face. Despite the pain she was experiencing she was alert enough to "see" what was happening around her. Her parents had come to the hospital to make sure she was ok. She tried to yell at them to run, to leave this place full of the Dead. She didn't know why they were here but she didn't want to lose them again. A large Dead had snarled loudly, jumping up on the bed next to Shay. It moved with more control and direction, as if it had working brains to use. The large Dead one called out orders to the horde surrounding them. Suddenly, a group over took her parents and pulled them away, trailing blood as they disappeared down the hall. A silent scream escaped Shay's lips, as in her mind she cried out for her parents. Shay thought she heard a familiar voice, Isam. He was saying something, but although she could hear his calm voice, strong and in control, she couldn't understand what he was saying. Hearing him gave her comfort and she turned her head, brow furrowed, trying to "see" where he was in the room. He needed to get out before the Dead over took him as well. She barely knew him but she knew he didn't deserve to die. She cared for him more than she realized. She caught a glimpse of Isam, looking at his profile as he was speaking to someone else. Her face felt warm. Her heavy eyelids struggled to stay open and quickly fell shut again, Isam disappearing.
On the bed in the hospital her body shook, sometimes violently, sometimes only slightly, her frame trembling as she lay curled up holding herself. Her eyes remained shut most of the time, at moments opening and reacting to what she was "seeing". The images stayed around her whether her eyes were open or shut. The bed she lay shaking on was getting moist with the sweat from her body. She was moving so much, her body working hard to endure the process, the exertion could be physically seen.
Shay lost sight of Isam. She didn't know if he had left the room or if the Dead had taken him. She tried to call out to him but could not find her voice.
Warmth spread over her as Sun lay a blanket over her body, keeping the heat in by tucking the fabric in at all corners of the bed. The warmth took the heavy chill off of her body, the ripples along her skin from her sweat cooling her down finally relaxing and smoothing out. The comfort from the blanket didn't take the Dead away. Shay tucked her chin down, her eyes shut tightly. She expected her death to come any moment now; she was desiring for an end to this torment.
Shay then heard a familiar sound. Soft and sweet, a soothing tone that made her lips twitch in to an awkward yet distinctive small smile. She could hear Sun in her head, the sound clear and easy to understand unlike the sounds from the others. She "opened her eyes" and tried to see where Sun was. She could see across the room her brother, his arm stretched out, his eyes locked on to hers. He looked scared but he wasn't hurt. Not an ounce of blood had stained his clothes. "S-Shane" Shay whispered desperately. Sun's voice continued through her mind. As she listened she saw Shane's lips moving in unison to the words she was hearing. Shay thought back to Sun, eyes trained on what she thought was her brother she was looking at. Sun, what's going on? What's happening to me? What...what do you mean it's not real? I saw them take everyone...kill them... Her body shook violently as a wave of sharp pain rattled through her veins. It's not real?.... she asked, pausing before thinking to Sun with confidence ....it's not real. W-what's happening to me? she pleaded him for answers. Focusing on his voice helped her mind clear slightly. The Dead had disappeared from along the walls, the blood that had once been scattered everywhere was gone.