Page 27 (1/2)

"Promise me you’ll sleep, as well"

"Sure" Whenever I can

"Izzy?" Dad stands at the end of the hallway in the living room He surveys both of us and I hide the picture from view If I had a patch on ed to Eation

"You ready to go hoain before seeking the shelter ofasleep on the job?" s Mom

"Yeah," I answer, then jackto sit with Olivia"

He nods his approval and I leave my parents behind as I head into the roo without

Ee intake of air and roll to my side On instinct, I reach for James, but then remember that he’s not in my bed anymore I banished the pink elephant that I slept with for years toa bad habit, but for so

My entire body except for my brain is zoned out My muscles are warm and heavy and Irun with Trisha My eyes snap open I’m not home and I’ve been separated from my e dark eyes Adrenaline shakes through es my throat, but no sound escapes I scramble back as the eyes inch closer I push away Kick at covers, but I becoe forward and then theylick?

Hot, sticky wetness acrossengulfs e it away, but the drool

"Get down, Lars" Eli rakes a hand over his short hair as he sits up on the longseat A pillow crease streaks across his cheek and he has the groggy appearance that acco woken Eli wears the saht, the sas on the post of the bed

I shakeBeauty must have been seriously disoriented after she woke up, but then she slept for years and me--I’ve obviously only slept an hour or so "What time is it?"

"Too early to be awake," Eli answers "Go back to sleep, Emily Your mom mentioned you don’t like the dark, woods or the unfamiliar so she said Olivia’s would make you uncomfortable I’ll stay up if it’ll h me that she’d tell Eli, or anyone, my fear