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Too peaceful

Jason couldn’t take the eerie quiet He whispered, “I’ht and co my shit and stuff You were really nice I hope that wasn’t weird or anything”

Ben’s exhalation tickled the back of Jason’s neck “It wasn’t weird”

His heart skipped, and he shifted again, fiddling with the blanket “Good thing you brought this stuff”

“Once a Boy Scout, et cetera”

“I never was”

“No?”

“My parents wouldn’t let y Let’s just say they don’t camp”

“So what did you like to do as a kid?” Ben asked

“I was a great swimmer Used to spend all the tiood in prep school But draas o to art school so much”

He wasn’t sure why he was ra Curled up in the wilderness in the pitch black with Ben inches aas like the strangest drearound, yet felt outside himself at the same time

He choked down the swell of panic and grief He’d get Maggie back He had to

Ben asked, “Why didn’t you go? Oh, of course Maggie”

“She changed“And people felt sorry for et it They don’t understand howbreath “She’s everything”

“We’re going to find her, Jason She’s going to be okay”

“This is a nightainst a rush of tears “I can’t live without her I can’t” His guts were torn out, flapping in the cold slice of wind, his heart exposed and bloody

Ben pressed closer, rubbing a co hand over Jason’s shoulder and arm

Jason fought for air, blood rushing in his ears “I can’t I need her back”

“Shh It’s okay”

Jason’s pulse thundered, desperate need burning He couldn’t think—he was all raw nerves, tre to like a life raft, and he turned over, burrowing close to Ben