Page 162 of Switch!

Jesse stares at me a moment longer. Then he sets down the knife and turns his attention to Trixie. “It’s bad. I think he managed to cut her radial artery.”

“Meaning?”

Jesse chokes back a sob. “She doesn’t have long. I called an ambulance. I had to.”

“Good,” I say, not concerned about my freedom. I’d rather spend the rest of my life behind bars than see her die. “There has to be something we can do!”

I watch as Jesse uses his free hand to feel for a pulse in her neck. His chin starts to shake along with his head. “I don’t think she’s going to make it.”

I won’t let her die. No matter what it takes. I sit next to her, slip out of my body, and see that her normally vibrant light has grown dim. That’s upsetting, but it also means I’m not too late. Her body is going to die. I can’t do anything to stop that, but I can save her soul.

I place my hands over hers, and it feels like I’ve grabbed onto two hot coals. At least here I am free to yell, which I do as I pull with all my strength. I feel her spirit moving toward me. What comes next will hurt even more, but I don’t care. I think about her ceaseless energy, her sharp wit, and all the ideas she came up with that either saved us or got us into more trouble. I remember how graceful she was when coaxing soothing music out of her violin, and how I could rely on her to do just about anything for me, even if it meant breaking a complete asshole out of juvenile hall. In my mind, I can hear how raw and vulnerable her voice was when describing how her parents rejected her, and I wish she could hear me now, because I want her to know the truth. I love her. More than I love myself.

I pull Trixie’s glowing light toward me and embrace her.

It feels like hugging a pillar of flame, but I don’t let that deter me. My arms tighten as her light joins mine and we become one.

My eyes shoot open. I must have toppled over while trying to help her. I’m lying next to Trixie on my side, but I don’t remain still. I begin to writhe as my mouth lets out a guttural sound. My skin is on fire! My muscles, the bones beneath, everything! I’m burning from the inside out, like someone forced me to guzzle down lava.

“Hurts!” I cry out as I begin thrashing. “Make it stop! Please!”

“What’s going on?” I hear Jesse ask from nearby, but the pain is too intense for me to see him. My eyes are going to melt. I’m sure of it. Hell isn’t a place. It’s inside of me, a vicious inferno that will never cease, because I’ll continue to burn until…

Until we no longer share this body. I realize what I have to do. Clenching my eyes shut brings little relief. Only when I let go and let myself slip free does the pain finally cease. I float in the void, the aftershocks leaving me weak. I can already feel myself fading. I need to find another body. I will myself to see but the void remains dark. Where is Jesse? He can shelter me like he’s done before. I try to move in the direction I think he’s in, but I can only drift. I’m exhausted. Burnt out. This is it. I’m about to discover whatever comes next, and the worst part is, I don’t even know if I was successful. Is she okay? Did I save her?

I feel myself bump against something, like a boat nudging the shore. I summon up the last of my strength, wanting to see again before my spark is extinguished. The blackness gives way to the dimmest light. I notice a fin-like shape tinged in purple and nearly laugh. Instead I reach out to touch it and…

The void vanishes, replaced by glorious light and sound, even if it is only the ceiling of a cheap motel room. I suck in air and try to sit upright, but dizziness forces me back down.

“Trixie?” I hear Jesse say. “Thank god! Stay with me. You’re going to be all right.”

He’s lying. I don’t need Trixie’s power to know that. This body is weak. Fading. I can’t go yet. Not until I know. I turn my head just as the bed shifts next to me. Someone sits up, glances around, and then peers down at me. I used to look a lot like him once, but that feels like another life, another dream.

“What the hell?” Trixie says in my voice. I know it’s her, because I can see her clever mind whirling away, leaping to all the right conclusions. “Oh no,” she says. “What did you do? No no no!”

I try to reach for her. I’m scared. I don’t want to die.

Trixie grabs my hand, but only to place it on Jesse’s forearm.

“What are you—”

“Travis is in my body,” Trixie tries to explain, gripping my hand and Jesse’s arm to keep them pressed together. “He gave me his, but now he’s going to die.”

Jesse shakes his head. “I don’t understand.”

“You don’t need to. Travis, get inside Jesse’s body! Quick!”

I’ve already been trying. The second we touched, instinct urged me to save myself, but I must have nothing left. Maybe it was the battle with Caleb. Or switching places with another purple person. It’s hard to concentrate when I feel so woozy, the lights in the room dimming.

“It’s okay,” I manage to mumble. “Don’t be sad.”

“Don’t be stupid!” Trixie shoots back, tears spilling down cheeks that once belonged to me. “Get out of that body!”

Boom boom boom!

The pounding on the door is followed by. “Paramedics! Let us in please!”

Jesse stands, my hand sliding off his arm, even though Trixie tries her best to keep us connected.