Page 2

Gemma

The one carrying me laid me down on something soft. Forcing my eyelids up, I made out a dark silhouette in the gray haze.

Is it night again? I blinked, but it didn’t clear my vision. I remember seeing the dawn, though. At the church. When that girl carried me. That girl… She said I would see—

“Kerry?”

Drawing on every ounce of energy I had left, I reached out with one hand. He didn’t take it.

What— What’s happening?

I couldn’t hold my eyelids open any longer, and my weakened arm shook from holding it out.

“Kerry?”

Silence, but I knew he was still there. I could hear him breathing.

Everything . Tears skimmed down my cheeks. I’ve ruined everything.

Darkness surrounded me and, for once in my life, I welcomed it. Maybe it would take away the awful ache in my chest. Like a wounded bird falling from the sky, my hand fell—

And was caught against a warm, hard palm.