"Tessa. Tessa, wake up. Please." I begged Tessa to wake up. She had been missing for months, only to show up on the Institute's doorstep today, with no recollection of any of us. Jem and I had spent weeks looking for her, to no avail. Sophie had begun spending more time with Gideon, and Cecily spent hours upon hours with Gabriel, determined to get on my nerves.
Tessa's eyes fluttered open for a moment before falling closed again. I gripped her hand tighter, determined to stay with her until she woke up.
"Will… Jem… no, please don't leave me. No… no!" Tessa gasped in her sleep. She started tossing and turning, her brown hair getting tangled.
"Charlotte!" I cried out, not meaning to. I had not cried for help since I was a little boy. Charlotte came rushing to the bedroom, looking startled and flushed.
"Will… what is it?" She asked. "What's wrong?" I motioned to Tessa, shocked into silence. Charlotte hurried over to the bedside and felt Tessa's forehead.
"Poor girl," Charlotte murmured. "She's burning up. I suppose I should call the Silent Brothers. Out you go, Will." She hustled me out of the door. "Your presence is keeping her from healing. Go now, shoo." I hurried out of the room before Charlotte could say another word.