"Hot. Too hot. And dark. I'm s-shaking...? I can't move? W... Why can't I move?"
Trepidation rattled into her bones. Her breath hitched. She couldn't see a thing, even with her eyes wide open, and they burned like a bonfire was stabbing at her corneas. A gross cry welled up in her abdomen, but she couldn't get it free. Her panic was only as far as her thoughts could reach, not able to manifest within her voice. Too hot. Too dark. She was being smothered inside herself.
"... l... se... E... lse..."
Every hair on her body stood at end. A voice. Not her own... it was distant. Echoing so far, but clear as crystal.
"You need to... listen to me. Else...!"
The voice called out. A name. Her name. That's right... it was calling out her name. She could remember it clearly. Her name... and... thoughts flooded her. Realization. She was--
Her eyes snapped open abruptly, jolting upright. The girl panted, suddenly aware of the cold sweat running down her cheeks, the rough brick she was propped up against... the dirt beneath her legs. Once air had caught up to her, she spared an exhausted sigh. The chill of the night air was almost pleasant, a freeing sting from the heat of a second ago. She pressed her knees against her chest, huddled on the grainy ground, and pulled her coarse green jacket over herself like a blanket.
"Night terrors. Again..."
Else looked up at the sky. An ever expansive pitch black looked right back at her, with stars dotting night as far as she could see. Crickets chirped and sang as if providing their own vocals to her. Likely hours until sunrise. Not an uncommon experience but... well, it never got easier. So with another exasperated huff, Else looked at the ground beside her, until she spotted her rough, hefty backpack. Sticking her hand inside, she nabbed a spiral notebook... messy and worn, adorned with a golden pawprint on its' front cover. In the center, her name hastily etched into it.
"Guess it's an all-nighter for me."