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This was her dream.

Whenever I entered someone’s mind, I usually needed to touch them or be in close proximity to them, so I had no clue how I’d ended up dreamwalking into hers. But with her scent everywhere, there was no doubt in my mind what I’d done.

I wasn’t sure how dreamwalking was even possible, given how sick I’d become.

I continued forward, using the flickering white light in the distance as my guide. Something told me when I reached it, I’d find out why I’d come here.

Pushing through a gap in a wall of twisted bramble and rotting trees, I stepped into a clearing covered in glowing mushrooms. A shiny, dark ochre substance oozed from tiny holes across their white caps, dripping to the forest floor like thick syrup.

A groan of discomfort stole my attention from the mushrooms.

In the middle of the clearing, Rae sat with her hands on the ground, fingers buried in the black soil. Her hair looked like it hadn’t been brushed in a month—or maybe two small animals got into a fight on top of her head.

I shook my head, dismissing the thought.

It wasn’t the time for things like that. Though it’d be funny to see.

Focus.

“Rae!”

She didn’t move.

I rushed forward and dropped to my knees in front of her. I cupped her cheeks and lifted her head, my breath stalling at what I saw.

Dark, empty holes stared back at me. No sign of flesh, blood, or anything living left inside her head. Inky black streaks marked her cheeks. The same substance covered her lips and the skin around her mouth, like she’d wiped her face with her hands trying to get rid of the black tears.

“Rae?” I looked around us, needing to stay on guard in case we were attacked.

In a dream like this, I wasn’t sure what to expect, and I couldn’t trust that damage here wouldn’t carry over to the waking world. Nothing else played by the rules, so why should the dreamworld?

“Zeke,” Rae whispered, sounding surprised by her own voice.

“I’m here. Why are we in Feranzis? What happened to you? Where are you?”

Fingers coated in dirt hooked over my hands as she whimpered.

Too many questions.

“I’m sorry. I just… Where are you?”

“In a basement somewhere.” Her voice sounded strained, but I couldn’t tell if it was from crying or sickness. “I haven’t been able to speak for days. How are you here?”

I licked my lips and brushed my thumb over her cheek. I wouldn’t tell her how sick the others were or that Ash had become the same way. I didn’t want to worry her.

“I think I’m dreamwalking.”

“How were you able to come to me?”

“I haven’t figured that out yet. What happened to you?”

“What do you mean?”

“Your eyes.” She recoiled, ducking her head, patting the skin at her temples. “I don’t mean anything bad… just… where are they?”

She lifted her head. “What are you talking about?”

“Where did they go?”