Vitiel

own on my shoulders, seeping through the t

t wal

oots, a rhythmic sound that ma

of me, white specters vani

more. I couldn't watch him pour her drink. I couldn't watch him hand her th

napped b

t take me. It would be a cleaner death

le

. It wasn't an anima

rising up to my calves. My foot caug

to my palms as

bed my waist befo

inst a chest that f

te shouted. He was br

f panic. He stripped off his jacket and wrapped it ar

his hands were checking me for injuries.

cond, the monster was gone. There was on

, Dante,"

e said.

. He held me close to his ches

thetic. I let myself pretend, for the length of a walk back

hrough the

e cabin spilled

tened his

urmured into my h

door fl

sn't wearing a coat. She

Her voice was shrill, p

She stumbled, falling to

left me alone in there! I heard

as acting. It was a perfo

his arms. Then he looked at her, sobbi

or in him s

n at me. His

stand?"

wait for

mply

ard. My knees buckled. I

ere," h

ran past me as i

him, wrapping her legs around his

Dante! Don'

promised her

the car. He shouted

to get her to the cl

ne roare

jacket he had given me

passenger seat. I watched h

n't lo

ard the screech of tires on ice. Then a

ers start

shouted. "The Boss a

guard hau

said, his voice full of pi

ond car. We followed the amb

nto the wa

t on his forehead, bleeding i

outing at

neurologist! Now!

e. I was wet. I was shivering

spered near

t over her,"

t a formality,"

sed m

e. I wasn't ev

st haunting

s don't f