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But I was going to be here for her now

S a hand over her wet hair, I brushed the strands back froainst her pale skin Rage caused ed the co to cut off ot to me before Josie was back toto herself

Gods

Of all the moments for Josie to wake up and find her way outside, it had to be right then First, I needed to explain to her what she saw outside Then I’d explain it to Alex, but I wasn’t sure how Josie could accept this--accept this new reality

~

Josie

When I opened my eyes, I didn’t knohere I was

The roo soft, which didn’t ods, I was naked under a sheet I was on a bed and I was naked A hundred horrible fears poisoned ht My heart leapt into ainst a hard, warm surface that felt an awful lot like a chest

Panic exploded like buckshot racing through every cell My bodyJackknifing off the bed, pain flared all across s off the bed I toppled forward,off the stone floor Eyes wide, I scanned the dark room as ? The for up

I scuttled across the floor,off the set enough air inat the sound of the voice, I drew my knees up I knew that voice Seth It was his--that deep voice that was htly accented But that didn’t make sense, because how could I be here with Seth? Unless everything had been a nighthtmare It had been real

The shape on the bed suddenly moved closer Feet landed on the floor and took a step toward led sound left me as fear overrode my senses I can’t do this anymore I can’t do--

The shape froze "It’s okay, Josie You’re here with me You’re safe"

That voice--it had to be Seth, and I’d heard that word before Safe Alex had told led to push the cobwebs of sleep and confusion aside

"Seth?" I whispered

"Yes It’s ht Okay?" he asked, and when I didn’t respond, he turned I heard a click a few seconds later, and buttery soft light flooded the rooer in the darkness, the events of the last couple of hours rushed to the surface

Seth stood in front of the bed, his ar a pair of loose sweats Blond hair fell in a mess of waves over his forehead and curled over the tips of his ears

I remembered

He’d found me in the shower and he held me while I cried I wasn’t in that horrible rooed from the dank cellar to serve as a battery pack for Hyperion or Cronus I was here with Seth I re another wo in a shallow breath full of pain, I curled my arms around my knees to try to hide my nudity Not that Seth hadn’t seen it all and then some, but I was uncomfortable and overexposed