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"Don’t shoot!"

The power snapped off, throwing the building into darkness, but I’d seen his face as he pulled up his helhost--and somehow, the reality was al that!" I cried, dropping un in terror "I almost killed you!"

His face was so thin, practically worn down to the bone He rushed towardthe last bit of distance between us His hands were everywhere at once, and he was kissing me--lips, cheeks, forehead, wherever he could reach--and I was breathing hi-wet shirt, unable to process the simple fact that he was here, that he was okay

He shifted, jarringmy throat

"Shit--shit, I’m sorry, Jesus--" Liam fumbled for the radio clipped to his jacket "I found her--Dad, I need your help!"

It alround behind er solidified, grew teeth He reached for the gun in the holster strapped to his leg and a shudder ripped through nized the darkness in his expression; I’d seen all toodown on his, keeping his weapon in place

Not Lia hile moment would fracture him at his core It would be a bone that healed crookedly inside hied his shape

I saw the moment he came back to himself, the way his nostrils flared and his eyes cleared When he looked up at the PSF running toward us again, this ti back into the nearest wall Knocking hi breath as he looked down at ain Gently, with a level of care that seeo, he inspected the cuts on , but he must have mistaken the pain for cold because he ripped his jacket off and drew it aroundit up my throat to trap the war up in my chest

"Why did it have to be you?" he demanded "Why did it have to be you?"

"Sorry," I whispered For Cole, for , in case the darkness came back and I couldn’t say it then "Sorry, love you, love you so et the hell out of here now?"

Another figure in black appeared at the head of the stairs, his shoulders heaving as he caught his breath I scraripped my hand "Over here--"

I saw a flash of black skin, a handsoht?"

"Notreally," Lia Toto be fine, you heardown to exaht?"