His eyes shot open to darkness, and the voices, scenes, and faces slowly faded into obscurity. Staring into the inky blackness, he tried his best to separate reality from dreams, pushing through the walls of deceit, clawing at the fringes of the real world.

Despite his best efforts, however, he felt himself slipping once again. Falling past the ledges and cliffs, he tried so desperately to grab hold, leaving behind only streaked fingerprints in the dust.

Suddenly, he hit rock, knocking the wind out of him as if a car had struck him at full speed from behind. From the stars and spots floating around him emerged the same ghostly figure of a beautiful girl he’d seen so many times.

“Please, just let me out of here,” he pleaded, and was met with an outstretched, semi-transparent arm.

Tentatively, he reached out and grasped the hand, but soon regretted the decision. His whole body fell numb within an instant, and he collapsed.

The girl smiled, and disappeared. He could only sigh in his head, “Not again…”