Ricky felt her cold breath tickle the hairs on the nape of his neck. A warmth, like a full body blush, spread across his skin, as he felt gentle ghost fingers ruffle through his too-short hair.

"Gretchen." He mouthed her name. He didn't remember even falling asleep.

"Follow me."

He sat up. There was only darkness all around him. He wasn't sure if he was awake or asleep. He touched his eyelids trying to tell if his eyes were even open. Where? How?

"I think I've found a way." Her voice dripped ice and darkness but Ricky leaned in closer to it, wanting to be a part of anything she offered. He had to do what she told him too. It was the only way for things to unravel, for him and Donnie both, to find the answers they needed. Whatever she asked of him Ricky had to do whatever he could to make it happen. I'm ready. Show me.

"You have to feel this." She whispered to him.

He let himself open to her.

"Feel this. " She whispered again her voice going slightly ragged and harsh. Her lips brushed against his ear as she spoke and he felt her memories shift through him.

It wasn't like the other times where it felt like he was trying on a pair of glasses. It was different this time, shocking. Her consciousness slipped inside him and her memories overwhelmed his senses. The touch of her ghost lips on his skin melded into the sensation of Donnie's warm nose pressed against his skin. It was more then just dreaming.

The nose bumped against his cheek and he heard Donnie's murmured lustful voice whisper, "I'm sorry. Does it hurt?"

Sensations hit him all at once. Donnie's body above him, covering him, hiding him, pressing him back against the soft fabric of a bed.

"Yeah." He panted, the voice sounding fragile and unfamiliar in his throat. He felt fingers on his chin as Donnie turned his face towards him and pressed their lips together. They were both sweating.

The Pain was unavoidably consuming. He squeezed his eyes shut. How did he get here?

Donnie's body unexpectedly shifted inside him as he leaned forward bending over to flutter cool breath across his neck and whisper; "Hey, I love you. I love you Gretchen."

The warmth that filled his chest exploded black stars across the backs of his eyelids and he felt his old consciousness bubble up to the surface for a moment to hold the one thought; This was the moment her soul bound itself to his.

--

Donnie felt the soft press of synthetic fur brush against his cheek and tickle his nose as

someone shifted to lie in bed next to him. No, not someone, it was Frank. He felt his pulse immediately quicken as his eyes opened in quiet surprise.

His heart crawled into his throat in both relief and fear as he hurriedly whispered. "Where have you been?"

"It's time. She's done it. She'll come for you soon."