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She rushed off out the door, and I hurried up toI didn’t want to leave even the littlest bit here When it was all done, I opened up the bedside drawer

The gris-gris was still there I dug through rabbed out a sock I picked it up with the sock, and then folded it inside the cotton I placed it carefully in lanced at the little clock on the bedside table Claudia had been gone for thirtydownstairs, and piled it by the door

What now?

I thought about leaving anyway, but another wave of dizziness almost madea few calone Far away fro her down

Exhaustion started to weigh on rew heavy, I could feel the vision coht it off and I couldn’t stopasleep

The only reason I kneas asleep was the slight hazy glow the roohter but duller than how it had looked a split second ago The couch dipped besideblack hair was streaked hite, and loosely braided She earing a traditional Mexican embroidered dress, and smelled of roses

"Sí, ao, in the hopes that I could link with you one day I’ht it, but every path I uncovered seemed to lead to the same place" She smiled, and I ached to sit up and hold her, but I didn’t want to destroy the illusion "It’s tiht You knohat you want, but you’ve been catering too much to everyone else I knohy--you didn’t understand the way things were The way it worked You have to know the rules to knohen to break the you love"

The ies, upset and alone, filled

I’d been wrong As always I’d tried to do the right thing, and I’d ended up hurting those around me

I’d tried to help Meredith and it’d almost killed her

Now, I’d tried to help the pack, and it was only hurting ht, amor Time to wake" She clapped her hands, and I blinked "Wake! Before you lose it all!"

She clapped her hands again And I jolted awake

The scent of cloves burned in my nostrils I tried to sit up, but couldn’t

My hands were tied My legs were tied I was chained to the floor, blindfolded Gagged