I wasn't sure how long I stayed there, staring at his motionless body. Watching as the square of light filtering through the window moved across his body. I'd tried not to cry, but tears came anyway, in rivulets. My body fell into tremors and I leaned my head down on Noah's stomach, slipping my hand into his. It felt cold; no shock of electricity went through my body at his touch, not anymore.

I lay there for a while, listening as my heart beat slowed to a steady pace and once I had calmed down, I lifted my head. Looked at how his impossibly long eyelashes cast a shadow on his cheekbones. Painful as it was to see him this way, I had to admit Noah looked peaceful. The most peaceful I'd ever seen him.

"Noah..." I whispered, my hoarse voice breaking the silence.

I reeled with shock when I felt something squeeze my fingers. It couldn't have been Noah, could it? I looked down, my hand was small and lost within his, but his fingers were still, unmoving. I must have imagined it. Even so, I noticed subtle differences since first finding him. Like his skin- it had gone back to its original colour, still pale, but British pale not dead pale. His full lips were pink again and I shivered involuntary at the memory of them against my neck, my collarbone. On my own lips. Had he come back to life? I didn't know the extent of his healing ability, but I wondered then if it was powerful enough to bring him back to life. Maybe something else had brought him back.

I decided to check his pulse; I didn't want to get my hopes up for nothing. Before I had the chance, he gasped suddenly and I froze, not knowing what to do. Finding my boyfriend dead only to have him come back to life wasn't an everyday occurrence. Though saying that, my life wasn't exactly normal. His eyes cracked open and found mine after a few minutes of confused glaze.

"Well isn't this a nice surprise" Noah's voice was weak but still warmed me through to the core. A slow, arrogant smile spread his lips- just as I remembered it and his eyes glistened.

"Noah" I breathed, throwing my arms around his neck. He wound his arms around me immediately, pulling me roughly to him. His touch was familiar, painfully so. I felt pure relief that he was here, alive again. I didn't care how -I didn't want to know how- I just wanted him close. As long as he was here, I was okay- I had someone to rely on. Someone who trusted my judgement, who knew I wasn't crazy. Just the thought of no longer being, even feeling alone almost brought tears to my eyes again. But I bit my tongue hard, keeping them at bay.

Noah pulled back, staring into my eyes. My smile fell away when his eyes grew suddenly dark. "I'll always remember you, Mara" his voice was no more than a whisper; gentle "Will you remember me?" At first I thought he was joking, but the intensity of his grey eyes told me he was serious.

I shook my head at his words, confused. Why was he talking as though he was leaving, he just came back. Came back from the dead. He should be smiling, laughing, kissing my tears away. "Noah, what are you-"

His fingers on my lips silenced the words. Noah's eyes looked sad when he spoke again, trailing a finger down my neck, sending a shiver down my back. But his words were what made my blood run cold.

"Wake up, Mara"

I gasped awake. Noah was still lying on the bed. Still no breath. Still lifeless.
Still dead.