The Fading Trilogy: Fading, Freeing, Falling: Includes 2 BONUS short stories: Hoping and Finding Forever by E.K. Blair

starts running his hand down my naked torso. What else does he want from me?
    "You're nothing but a cunt," he lashes when he abruptly jabs his fingers inside of me and then spits in my face.
    I begin to yell and thrash my body, fighting to escape. "God, please! Stop!"
    He lifts up, and suddenly, I see a flash of light that is devoured by darkness and silence.

Where am I? Why can't I see? I hurt.
    I try and move but something is holding me down. I feel my body rattling on something hard, and I sense that I am moving.
    Am I dreaming? I'm so confused. What's happening?
    I feel like I'm in a car or something, but I can't move.
    Why can't I move?!
    I'm panicking. I can feel it, feel my heart beating harder and louder.
    Open your eyes, Candace. Focus—open your eyes.
    "Miss?" I hear a man say.
    Someone's here. Help me! Wake me up!
    "Try and relax, Miss. We're almost there."
    Where? What's happening? Someone fucking help me!! Where am I?!
    Sheer fright shoots through me, and I feel the strain in my eyes as they start to open. I squeeze them shut immediately because they burn. I start to feel my body come to life and wriggle my wrists, but something is holding them down. I'm terrified and turn frantic as I keep trying to free my arms. The wriggling quickly turns into erratic jerks. I'm strapped down and I'm terrified.
    "Help me! Get me out of here!" I shriek out in a hoarse voice. I try to move my head, but I can't. I feel something is wrapped around my neck preventing me from moving.
    "It's okay, we're almost there. You're in an ambulance. You were knocked unconscious. We're on our way to the hospital."
    I try and open my eyes, but they still sting. I blink several times when I feel a damp cloth cover them. I start crying at the calming feel of the cool wet cloth. He presses it down gently on my eyes and forehead, then wipes softly.
    "Try opening your eyes," the man says.
    I do as I'm told, and he wipes one more time. After a few seconds the sting starts to subside.
    "You have a lot of dirt and sweat that has gotten into your eyes."
    Blinking a few more times, I start to focus on the man hovering over me. I keep trying to move, but I can't get my limbs free.
    "Just try and relax," he says in a soothing voice. "You are strapped down to a backboard and are wearing a neck brace until we can assess your injuries."
    I stare up at the bright white light that is above me in the cab of the ambulance and focus on my breathing.
    What just happened? Is this even real?
    "Miss, how do you feel? Can you tell me if anything hurts?" he asks.
    How do I feel? I don't know how I feel. I don't even know what the hell just happened. I feel scared and numb. I feel everything and nothing all at once. I feel like this is a dream—a very, very bad dream that I can't wake up from. I don't understand. I'm so confused. Fear and misery rip through me and create a new emotion that I can't even begin to describe. My heated tears roll continuously down the side of my face as I remain staring at the white light.
    "Miss?"
    "I don't know," is all I can manage to say, my only attempt at a response to his very confusing question.
    I move my eyes downward to look at my body, and I am covered in a grey wool blanket. Suddenly, I remember that I am naked beneath this blanket. Embarrassment wells up inside of me, and I begin to sob uncontrollably.
    "I want to go home!" I choke out. "I want to go home!!" I barely recognize my own voice. The panic I hear in myself is frightening.
    We stop abruptly, and the smell of fresh air envelops the ambulance as the doors to the cab open. As I am rolled out, I watch the white light move up and over the top of my head. I want to cover my face with my hands, but they are still strapped down. I start choking on short breaths between sobs. Where are they taking me? What's going to happen? I feel completely out of control, and I live for control.
    There is a lot of noise and people chattering while I am being wheeled into the hospital. I'm