Burning. The first thing I noticed was the heat, rippling over my body in waves. And the tickling, dry grasses under my arms. The back of my mouth, itchy. I opened my eyes to blinding light and quickly shut them again, until all I could see was pulsing red.
Where was I? Sitting up, I hugged my knees, reassuring myself I was still flesh and blood. I squinted down the hill, and the wind teased hot fingers around my neck. Beyond the valley was the city, tiny and perfect, as if I held the wrong end of a pair of binoculars to my eyes…