p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"I am not sure when I regain consciousness. There is a throbbing at the base of my neck stretching into the rest of my skull. Keeping eyes closed I try remembering what happened. It all comes crashing back as though the ceiling caved and all the snow fell through, suffocating me. Douglass, the fight, Chase, Adam, Leo, Bree.../span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"A beeping I failed to notice earlier speeds up. My eyes snap open and I struggle for breath. The lights are blinding against the white sheets, curtain, walls and tile floor. A skylight seen above the the bed allows for some natural light to enter. An IV needle is poking out my forearm and a drip tube dangles upside down. Monitors positioned around are attached in various places to my body. Resisting would be useless-I have no strength to do so. My initial thought is /spanspan style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"hospital/spanspan style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;", but after recovering some of my bearings I out the window and into the street outside the Davenport mansion. Why am I here? I have extreme difficulty thinking straight with the pounding so loud. It seems as though a sledgehammer is being brought down on every inch of my brain. A click sounds and something is fed into the needle in my arm and everything dulls, becoming fuzzy around the edges. My body sighs blissfully and relaxes again as I fall back asleep./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"The next time I wake, a screen beside the door contains Eddy's image. "Look who finally decided to come alive," his squeaky voice grates at my ears. "Hey, everyone! Audrey's awake!" he yells and it must echo through every screen in the house./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""How long was I out?"/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""About four days."/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"The door opens a moment later and the Davenport family files in. A knot in my stomach tightens when I see the shape each of my friends are in. Donald, Tasha, Leo, then Adam with a black eye. When Bree hobbles in on crutches I stifle a sob. All of this I did to them. Chase comes in last, spots me and a load is dropped from his shoulders./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""How are you feeling?" Leaning down he touches his lips to my forehead. It brings a comfort from home I have lacked since waking up./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"Leo places a box of chocolates on the table. "We thought these would help take your mind off things."/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"Adam adds, "They might have a bite out of some. The coconuts were gross so I left those." When everyone turns he holds out his hands. "Somebody needed to sample them to make sure we weren't going to poison her!"/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""We've been so worried about you," Bree continues as Tasha drags the chair closer for her. I bite my lip at the grimace she makes as she hobbles on one leg. I never dreamed of injuring her that way-or if I did at least by complete accident doing something entertaining. But I did. "Bree, I am so, so sorry. I don't expect you to forgive me but..." my voice trails off. She rests a hand on my arm./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Of course I forgive you, just the way you would forgive me if it were reversed. Douglass forced your hand to something I know is beyond you." The tension weighing down on my chest lightens some, pulling on the corners of my mouth a bit as it floats away. If I lost Bree I would be lost. Not necessarily in the way if I lost Chase but in just as discouraging a manner./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"Mr. Davenport steps forward, a sorrowful look clouding his eyes. "Audrey, if anyone here should be apologizing it should be me. I should have never allowed this to happen to you in the first place—not the bionics and especially not Douglas managing to use you as a weapon of mass destruction." Maybe it is the painkillers pumping through me or my fuzzy head, but I accept his apology with no hard feelings./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""It's okay." He seems relieved and excuses himself soon after, Adam, Leo, Bree and Tasha following. Tasha kisses my head and says she'll let my parents know I'm awake. My head pounds again. My parents. I don't even want to think of that fiasco right now./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"I direct my attention to the one person left. "Tell me what happened." Chase eases into the chair and laces the fingers of our left hands together, studying them. His right arm is in a sling and my heart aches to see it. I am a monster./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""You've been in here for four days. After you passed out, Adam unlocked a new bionic and saved us. The roof collapsed on Marcus. I did a scan of your vitals-you were barely alive, Audrey. You were so weak your heart actually stopped." His voice cracks and eyes glisten. "I thought...I was afraid I was going to lose you." Then Chase Davenport does something I have never seen nor expected: he cries./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"I lay there stunned for a moment as Chase rests his head on the bed. Taking him into my arms I rub a line down his spine as he buries his face in my hair. Tears push out and slide down my cheeks as well. He had to live several days with the prospect of me dying hanging over his head; I cannot imagine what he must have been fighting with. If I was in his position I would be an absolute wreck./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"When he is able to collect himself again Chase sits back, wiping his face. With a shaky laugh he says, "Sorry, I was just so scared for days. Don't ever do that to me again."/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""I'll try not to," I tease. A disturbing thought crosses my mind and I lean back, turning away./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""What is it?"/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""I'm a monster," I shake my head, "look at what I did to you, Bree, Adam, Leo and Davenport. None of you should have anything to do with me after what happened."/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"He stares at me. "What are you talking about? You saved us."/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""No, I hurt people."/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Are you even hearing yourself? Who else could have regained control like that and stopped the plans of a crazy villain who wanted to kidnap us and sell us as soldiers to the highest bidder?" He gives me an incredulous look. "If not for you none of us would be standing here right now."/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""But if-" he cuts me off./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""I don't want to hear it. You are not a monster or a bad guy. Douglass was forcing you to do those things to us. Do not ever consider yourself anything less than a hero."/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""What makes me a hero?" I protest./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Because I say you are and so does everyone else."/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""That's not good enough."/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""No?" He kisses the tips of my fingers between each word. "What— will— convince— you— then?"/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""I don't know if anything you say can convince me," I murmur./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;""You were fighting the entire time to regain control, right?" I nod. "Then that is all of the proof that I need. Even if you have trouble believing it yourself, I know the truth."/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"A beeping I failed to notice earlier speeds up. My eyes snap open and I struggle for breath. The lights are blinding against the white sheets, curtain, walls and tile floor. A skylight seen above the the bed allows for some natural light to enter. An IV needle is poking out my forearm and a drip tube dangles upside down. Monitors positioned around are attached in various places to my body. Resisting would be useless-I have no strength to do so. My initial thought is /spanspan style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"hospital/spanspan style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;", but after recovering some of my bearings I out the window and into the street outside the Davenport mansion. Why am I here? I have extreme difficulty thinking straight with the pounding so loud. It seems as though a sledgehammer is being brought down on every inch of my brain. A click sounds and something is fed into the needle in my arm and everything dulls, becoming fuzzy around the edges. My body sighs blissfully and relaxes again as I fall back asleep./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"The next time I wake, a screen beside the door contains Eddy's image. "Look who finally decided to come alive," his squeaky voice grates at my ears. "Hey, everyone! Audrey's awake!" he yells and it must echo through every screen in the house./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""How long was I out?"/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""About four days."/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"The door opens a moment later and the Davenport family files in. A knot in my stomach tightens when I see the shape each of my friends are in. Donald, Tasha, Leo, then Adam with a black eye. When Bree hobbles in on crutches I stifle a sob. All of this I did to them. Chase comes in last, spots me and a load is dropped from his shoulders./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""How are you feeling?" Leaning down he touches his lips to my forehead. It brings a comfort from home I have lacked since waking up./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"Leo places a box of chocolates on the table. "We thought these would help take your mind off things."/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"Adam adds, "They might have a bite out of some. The coconuts were gross so I left those." When everyone turns he holds out his hands. "Somebody needed to sample them to make sure we weren't going to poison her!"/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""We've been so worried about you," Bree continues as Tasha drags the chair closer for her. I bite my lip at the grimace she makes as she hobbles on one leg. I never dreamed of injuring her that way-or if I did at least by complete accident doing something entertaining. But I did. "Bree, I am so, so sorry. I don't expect you to forgive me but..." my voice trails off. She rests a hand on my arm./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Of course I forgive you, just the way you would forgive me if it were reversed. Douglass forced your hand to something I know is beyond you." The tension weighing down on my chest lightens some, pulling on the corners of my mouth a bit as it floats away. If I lost Bree I would be lost. Not necessarily in the way if I lost Chase but in just as discouraging a manner./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"Mr. Davenport steps forward, a sorrowful look clouding his eyes. "Audrey, if anyone here should be apologizing it should be me. I should have never allowed this to happen to you in the first place—not the bionics and especially not Douglas managing to use you as a weapon of mass destruction." Maybe it is the painkillers pumping through me or my fuzzy head, but I accept his apology with no hard feelings./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""It's okay." He seems relieved and excuses himself soon after, Adam, Leo, Bree and Tasha following. Tasha kisses my head and says she'll let my parents know I'm awake. My head pounds again. My parents. I don't even want to think of that fiasco right now./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"I direct my attention to the one person left. "Tell me what happened." Chase eases into the chair and laces the fingers of our left hands together, studying them. His right arm is in a sling and my heart aches to see it. I am a monster./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""You've been in here for four days. After you passed out, Adam unlocked a new bionic and saved us. The roof collapsed on Marcus. I did a scan of your vitals-you were barely alive, Audrey. You were so weak your heart actually stopped." His voice cracks and eyes glisten. "I thought...I was afraid I was going to lose you." Then Chase Davenport does something I have never seen nor expected: he cries./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"I lay there stunned for a moment as Chase rests his head on the bed. Taking him into my arms I rub a line down his spine as he buries his face in my hair. Tears push out and slide down my cheeks as well. He had to live several days with the prospect of me dying hanging over his head; I cannot imagine what he must have been fighting with. If I was in his position I would be an absolute wreck./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"When he is able to collect himself again Chase sits back, wiping his face. With a shaky laugh he says, "Sorry, I was just so scared for days. Don't ever do that to me again."/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""I'll try not to," I tease. A disturbing thought crosses my mind and I lean back, turning away./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""What is it?"/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""I'm a monster," I shake my head, "look at what I did to you, Bree, Adam, Leo and Davenport. None of you should have anything to do with me after what happened."/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"He stares at me. "What are you talking about? You saved us."/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""No, I hurt people."/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Are you even hearing yourself? Who else could have regained control like that and stopped the plans of a crazy villain who wanted to kidnap us and sell us as soldiers to the highest bidder?" He gives me an incredulous look. "If not for you none of us would be standing here right now."/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""But if-" he cuts me off./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""I don't want to hear it. You are not a monster or a bad guy. Douglass was forcing you to do those things to us. Do not ever consider yourself anything less than a hero."/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""What makes me a hero?" I protest./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Because I say you are and so does everyone else."/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""That's not good enough."/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""No?" He kisses the tips of my fingers between each word. "What— will— convince— you— then?"/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""I don't know if anything you say can convince me," I murmur./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;""You were fighting the entire time to regain control, right?" I nod. "Then that is all of the proof that I need. Even if you have trouble believing it yourself, I know the truth."/p