"...open your eyes..." Bradford finished, cementing his control and finishing the exercise. And then, in a more optimistic and friendly voice.

"Guys? Hello?"

"Come on guys, open your eyes." he said again, perhaps a little impatiently.

Shawn found that, although his eyes had been open for sometime, they now remained strangely fixed on Bradford's face. It was as if his eyes were open yet closed at the same time. Transfixed by whatever had happened.

Delilah's eyelids fluttered, then opened slowly. Despite the long rest, she felt exhausted and sweaty. As if she'd collapsed on the bench after a taxing routine. She wiggled her fingers and toes to make sure everything was still there. Mindfulness of being dead meat was scary.