Hayley's POV

I awoke with a ragged gasp, my heart jackhammering in my chest. 

My surroundings slowly materialized - the familiar setting of my bedroom, no sign of the horrific monster that had...

A dream. It had all just been an intensely vivid, terrifying nightmare brought on by my injuries.

 Relief washed over me, quickly followed by confusion. How did I get home? Where was Aiden?

The bedroom door burst open, and my mom rushed in, her face pale and drawn with worry.

"Hayley! Oh thank god, you're awake!" She flung herself at me, pulling me into a tight hug that made me wince. "We were so worried after the...