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"Do you knoas almost exactly like my dad’s criives it a gentle squeeze "Yeah, I heard that"

Silence capes us as ht my dad disappeared; the panic that led to my stupid decision to run away and who ran aith els exist?" he asks "And that they walk in disguise, looking for the Griel ill save theuess I s in this world" Like ers travel up ainst my skin, and my stomach quivers with the desire to be closer to him "The Grim Reaper," he whispers and I’ up, and accidentally step on a cross I quickly pick it up and stab it back into theup too "Did I say so that makes you uneasy? Because if I did, you can tell aze up at the statue and then at the crosses in the ground around it "No… it’s just getting late I should probably get hoe "Yeah, we can go back"

As we backtrack through the trees, I think about the Gri insidefor me on the couch with a cup of tea, like we’re old friends But I’ tea with them

"Do you think that… do I come off as a little crazy?" I abruptly ask e approach the edge of the turnout where the car is parked

He stops in his tracks, and slipping his arm around my back, he pulls me close to him so that I can see the honesty in his eyes "I think there are a lot of people that are considered insane, but they just see and go through e person can understand" He kisses me on the forehead and I bask in the warmth and silence of his lips

I nod and we move away froine and places the flashlight back in the glove box

I watch hiuarded expression as I ask, "Asher, why did you bring me here?"

He places an arm on the back of my headrest "Because I wanted to show you that people tend to fear the different, even when the different is good"

"Like Angels?"

"Yeah, like Angels, and like people who are out of the ordinary" His fingers brush the back of my neck

"But what does this have to do with Garrick and the Anamotti?" I ask "Or can you not tell me that yet?"

"Do you wantcircles on my shoulder

I hesitate briefly, nervous what the answer could be "Umm… yeah?"

"The word ‘Anaels exist," he says in a controlled tone "And they want to destroy theroup?" I tread with caution

He shakes his head "I’m not, but I know people who are"

I take in the dark alteration of the night "What does that have to do with er underneathpast my eyes and into my soul "I can tell you, but I want you to ht be hard for you to take in, especially when you’ve got so much stress in your life already I want you to really make sure, whether you believe me or not, that you can handle whatever it is I tell you"

"How do you know about aze

"Because of the sadness you always carry" He sweeps the tip of his fingers along the corner of my eye "It’s in here, all the time So please, if you’re not ready, it can wait"

It’s frightening how ives me a moment to contemplate and my mind reflects back to Garrick and his multiple death omens To Raven And Ian My alcoholic, els and secret societies? There is soon in ht has been one of the best nights ofof bliss for as long as I can Whatever he’s about to say will change it Perhaps even destroy it--I can sense it through the tone in his voice, the way he moves, and the way his eyes watchto deal hat’s before etting late"

He nods with understanding in his eyes and then pulls his hand away, placing it on the steering wheel "Whatever you want, Eive it to you"

I wonder if he really hts in my house are off e pull up Either the power is still out, my mom and Ian are in bed, or no one’s ho at the house "It doesn’t look like anyone is"

"Well, it is," I glance atShit, how’d it get to be that late?"

"Tih and an inside-ht has dissolved froht conversation about els, the Grim Reaper, and the Anamotti for thethat is related to it

"Tonight was fun, though" I jerk on the handle and push the car door open "And I needed some fun"