Ella:

I got up with a start, screaming for help, someone save me from Joe! I was screaming but no-one could hear me. I was hyperventilating and my heart was still pounding hard against the rib-cage. It took me a moment after looking at the medical tag on my hand to realize that I was lying on a huge hospital bed and dreaming. Scanning around, it barely seemed like a hospital to me, what with ebony furniture and vases of colorful Amaryllis and Anthurium.

I was perspiring and for some reason, my head felt really heavy. I touched my forehead to find it wrapped in bandages. As I was trying...