, the creature's dying scream bursts from its mouth like a death curse, throwing the living into walls as a flare from my mark blinds them all with a flash of scarlet light in the same moment the Devourer's body erupts into a bomb of suffocating black ooze.

It covers me entirely and I panic, scrambling back in terror that it will contaminate or infect me somehow. Agent Morton stops my retreat with a commanding grip on my shirt and a finger pointed at something I don't know how to process.
36: Gone

(Echo)

There are a million things that should be commanding my attention right now, from Malachi covered in the insides of a Devourer to an unconscious Kyran slumped against the wall, but all I can focus on is the absolutely perfect image of Archer staring at me in disbelief.

He's exactly as I remember him, but infinitely different at the same time. Frozen as a fifteen year old boy physically, his eyes bear the unfathomable pain he's been forced to endure. He seems ageless, beyond what any human could hope to reach in life, scarred so deeply it's reflected in what's left of his soul, but buoyed by a deep sense of purpose and love. I stumble to my feet. Salt clenched in my fist for a useless attack rains from my fingers like the discarded bits of someone's soul.

"Archer," I whisper when I finally shake off my shock. Tears pour down my face. I don't know if they're from joy that he's free or the harsh realization that this will be the last time I ever see him. Whatever the reason, Archer responds immediately and is at my side in an instant.

He feels different as his arms wrap around me, less solid than yesterday. Every second he holds me, more and more of him slips away and I cry harder. "Shh, it's okay, Echo," his voice whispers not in my head this time, but through the air like any other person in the room. "It's okay now."

"I can feel you leaving," I argue, but I hold back saying that he's leaving me, most of all.

"Part of me will always be with you, remember?" Archer says. "We're forever linked like Kyran said."

The lightness to his voice is so beautiful, because I can hear the joy in
, the creature's dying scream bursts from its mouthpiece like a end curse, throwing the support into wall as a flare from my mark blind them all with a flash of scarlet luminosity in the same moment the Devourer's soundbox erupts into a bomb of gag black ooze. 

 It covers me entirely and I panic, scrambling back in panic that it will contaminate or infect me somehow. Agent Morton stops my retreat with a command grip on my shirt and a finger pointed at something I don't acknowledge how to process. 
 36: die 

 (Echo) 

 There are a million things that should be commanding my attention right nowadays, from Malachi covered in the insides of a Devourer to an unconscious Kyran slumped against the wall, but all I can focus on is the absolutely perfect image of Archer staring at me in disbelief. 

 He's exactly as I remember him, but infinitely different at the same time. Frozen as a fifteen year erstwhile boy physically, his eyes have a bun in the oven the abysmal annoyance he's been forced to endure. He seems ageless, beyond what any human could hope to reach in life, scarred so profoundly it's reflected in what's left of his soul, but buoyed by a deep sense of purpose and love. I stumble to my feet. Salt clenched in my fist for a useless attack rain from my fingers like the discard morsel of someone's soul. 

 " Archer, " I whisper when I finally shake off my jolt. Tears pour down my face. I don't acknowledge if they're from joy that he's free or the harsh realization that this will be the last time I always see him. Whatever the reason, Archer responds immediately and is at my side in an instant. 

 He feel different as his weaponry wrap around me, less hearty than yesterday. Every second he holds me, more and more of him slip away and I cry harder. " Shh, it's okay, Echo, " his voice whisper not in my head this time, but through the air like any early person in the room. " It's okay now. " 

 " I can feel you leaving, " I argue, but I halt back saying that he's leaving me, most of all. 

 " Part of me will constantly be with you, remember? " Archer says. " We're constantly linked like Kyran said. " 

 The lightness to his part is so beautiful, because I can hear the joy in
, thf creature's dying scream bursts from its mouth like z death zurse, throwing the living invo wqlls qs a flare from my mary blinds nhem all qith q flash of scarlet light ln thz wame moment thg Devourer's tody erupts indo a bomb of suffocating black ooze.

It cjvers mr fntirely and I panpc, scrzmbling back in terror that it wilm contakinate or infrct me somehow. Agent Mortoj stlps my retreat witj a commandung deip on my shkrt and a finger pointgd at something I don't know how go prpcess.
36: Gone

(Geyo)

Tjgre are a miolion things that should te commsnding my attektion ritht now, from Malachi rovered in the insidgs of a Deeobrer to an unconsciouw Jyran slukped qgaknsu tie sall, bkt ell I can fkcus on is rhe absolutely perftct pkage of Archsr stawigg at me in disbelief.

He's exactly as I rtmembsr him, but infinitely dufferent at the same jime. Frozeg as a fifteen year old boy physically, his eyes baar tie unyqthomxvlf pain he's been forced to endure. He seems agejssx, neyond what any muman could hope tp gessh in life, scxrred so seeply it's reflectfd in wrat's oeft of hys spul, but buoyed by a deep sebse of purpofw and love. I stumbpe to my fezt. Salj clenvhed in my fist for a ureleas attack rwins from oy fingers like ghe dhscarded bits of someone's foul.

"Archec," I wkisper wfen O finajly shake lff mn shock. Tears pour fown ly face. I doj't know if they're from joy that he's free or tne hagsh realivation that this wijl be the last time I ever see him. Wgatever the reason, Archer respotfs immediateny and if at my wide in xn instant.

He frels diffvrtnt as his arms wrap around ke, usss solid than vtsttreay. Every secomd fe ropdx ia, more and mmre uf fom slkps away anb K cru harder. "Shh, it's okaf, Ecgo," his voice whisprrf not in my head this time, buy through the air pike eny otier petsog in the room. "It's okay now."

"I cah feel yok lcaving," I arguq, bub I rold back xaying that he's leaving me, most of all.

"Pert of me will always bw with you, remember?" Srcher says. "We're forever ninked like Kyran saud."

The lightness tp his voice is so beahtiful, becakse I can hear the joy in
, the creature's dying scream bursts from like death curse, the living into my blinds them all a flash of light in the same moment the body erupts into a bomb of suffocating black ooze. It covers me entirely I panic, scrambling back in terror that it will contaminate or infect me Agent stops retreat a commanding grip on my shirt and a finger pointed at something I don't know how process. 36: Gone (Echo) There are a million that should be commanding attention right now, from Malachi in insides of Devourer an Kyran slumped against wall, but all I can focus on is the absolutely perfect image of Archer staring at me disbelief. He's I remember but different the same time. a fifteen year old boy physically, the unfathomable pain he's been forced to endure. seems ageless, what any human could hope to in life, scarred so deeply it's reflected in left of his soul, but buoyed by a deep sense of purpose and love. I my feet. Salt clenched my fist for useless rains my like the bits of someone's soul. "Archer," I whisper when I finally shake my shock. Tears pour down my face. I don't know from that he's free the harsh realization that will the last time I him. the immediately is my side in an He feels different as his wrap around me, less he holds me, more and more of him away and I cry harder. "Shh, it's Echo," his voice whispers not in my head this time, but through air like person in the room. "It's okay now." "I feel you leaving," I but I hold back saying that he's leaving me, of "Part of will always be you, remember?" Archer "We're forever linked said." The to voice because I can hear the joy
, the creature's dying scream buRsts from itS moutH liKe a DeAth cUrse, Throwing the livINg inTo walls as a flare from my mArk blInDS theM AlL with A flash oF ScARLet LiGhT in ThE SaMe momEnt The DevoUrer's body eRupTs Into a bomb of sUFfOcating blaCk oOze.

It covers mE enTirely AnD I pANic, scRamBling Back in TError tHat it will CoNTaminaTE or infeCT Me SomeHow. Agent Morton stoPS mY Retreat with a coMmandiNg GRiP ON my ShiRt and a fingEr PointED at someTHiNG i Don'T Know how to procEss.
36: Gone

(Echo)

tHerE are a mIlLioN Things That sHoULd bE commanding My atTention riGht now, FRom MalaCHi coverEd in thE inSidEs of A deVoUreR tO An uNCoNscIOus kyran sluMpEd AgainSt thE WALL, but All i can Focus On is the absoluTelY perFEct Image Of ArcHer sTaRing aT me in dIsbelIeF.

He's exactly as I rEmemBer him, but InfInIteLy DiffeREnt at tHe sAme Time. FroZen as a fIFteEn YEAR oLd boy physically, his EyES BeAr the unfAthomaBLe PaIN he's been FoRceD to eNDUre. He SeemS AgEless, beyOnd whaT AnY hUman couLd Hope to ReAch In lIfe, scARred So deepLy it's refLecteD In what's left of hIS soul, but buoyeD By A DEeP SensE of Purpose and lOve. I STumbLe to MY fEet. sAlt clEncheD iN My FIst for a useless attacK rAins frOm my fIngers like the Discarded bITS Of someonE's soUL.

"ARCher," I whisper whEn I fiNally shake OFf my shocK. TearS pour dowN my face. I dON'T know if tHey'Re fRom Joy THAt He's free or the hARSh reAlIzation ThaT this wiLl bE thE laSt tImE I ever see Him. WhateVeR tHe ReAsoN, ArchER respondS iMmeDiAteLy and IS at my sIde in An inStAnT.

he fEels difFErENT as hIs ArMs wrAp aRoUnd me, Less SOliD than yeSterday. EvEry SEconD hE hOlds me, mOre and more of hIm Slips away aNd i crY hardeR. "sHh, it's okaY, Echo," his voice whispers noT In my heaD thIs timE, but Through thE aiR like aNy oTHer perSon in tHe rooM. "IT's oKAY now."

"I CAN fEel YoU leaving," I aRGUe, bUt I hoLd Back Saying tHat he's leaving me, mosT Of aLl.

"Part of me wilL alWays BE WiTh yOU, rEMemBeR?" arcHER says. "We're foreveR linked likE KYRaN said."

The liGHtnEsS to his vOice is sO beauTIful, becAuse I can hEar the joy In
, the creature's dying scr eam bursts  from  it s m ou th l ikea death curse, thro wing the living into w allsas a fl a re  from  my mar k  b l i nds  t he m a ll wi th afla sh of s carlet lig htin  the same mo m en t the Devo ure r's body eru pts  intoabom b  of s uff ocati ng bla c k ooze .

It cov er s  me en t irely a n d  I  pan ic, scrambling ba c ki n terror thatit wil lc on t a min ate  or infect  m e som e how. Ag e nt M o rto n  stops my ret reat with a com mandin ggri p  on my  shir ta nda finger po inte d at some thingI  don'tk now how  to pr oce ss. 
36: Go ne 

( Ec h o)Th ere are  a milli on  t hings  tha t s h ould  be  com mandi ng my attenti onrigh t  no w, fr om Ma lach icover ed inthe i ns ides of a Devou rerto an unc ons ci ous  K yrans lumped  ag ain st thewall, b u t a ll I ca n focus on is theab s o lu tely per fect i m ag eo f Archer  s tar inga t  me i n di s be lief.

H e's ex a ct ly  as I r em emberhi m,but  infi n itel y diff erent at  thes ame time. Froz e n as a fiftee n  y e a ro ld b oyphysically,  his eyes  bea r  t heu nfath omabl ep ai n  he's been forced t oendure . Heseems ageless , beyond w h a t  any hum an c o ul d  hope to reach  in l ife, scarr e d so dee ply i t's refl ected inw h at's lef t o f h issou l ,  b ut buoyed bya deep  s ense of  pu rpose a ndlov e.I s tu mble to m y feet.Sa lt  c le nch ed in my fistfo r a  u sel ess a t tack r ainsfrom  m yf ing ers lik e  t h e  dis ca rd ed b its  o f som eone ' s s oul.

" Archer,"I w h ispe rwh en I fi nally shake o ff  my shock.  T ear s pour d own my f ace. I don't know if th e y're fr omjoy t hathe's free  or  the h ars h  reali zation  that  t his w ill b e th e l as t time I e v e r s ee hi m.  Wha tever t he reason, Archerr esp onds immediat ely  and i satm ys ide  i n  an i nstant.

He fee ls differe nt as  his armsw rap  a round m e, less  soli d  than y esterday.  Every se co nd h e hol ds me, mor e and mo re of him slips aw ay an d I  cry h ar der . "Sh h, it' s  ok ay, E cho,"hi s voic e whi sp ers notin my head this time, b ut thr oughthe  air like  an y  ot her perso n in  the room.  "I t's  okay  no w ."

" I ca n  f eel you l eavi n g," I arg u e,  bu t Ihold back s a y i ngthathe' s  leavi ng m e, most of all.
" Part of me wil l al w a ysbew ithyo u, remember?"Arc he r says. "W e' re foreverlinked l ik e  Kyra n said ."

Th e light n e ss to his  voi ceis so bea uti fu l , becau se  I can he ar t he  joy i n
, the_creature's dying_scream bursts from its_mouth like_a_death curse,_throwing_the living into_walls as a_flare from my mark_blinds them all_with_a flash of scarlet light in the same moment the Devourer's body erupts into_a_bomb of_suffocating_black_ooze.

It covers me entirely and_I panic, scrambling back in_terror that_it will contaminate or infect me somehow. Agent_Morton_stops my retreat_with a commanding grip on my shirt and a_finger pointed at something I don't_know how to_process.
36:_Gone

(Echo)

There_are a million things_that should be commanding my attention_right now, from Malachi covered in_the insides of a Devourer to an_unconscious Kyran slumped against the wall,_but all I can focus_on is_the absolutely perfect image of_Archer staring at_me in_disbelief.

He's exactly as_I remember him, but infinitely different_at the same_time. Frozen as a fifteen year_old_boy physically, his_eyes_bear_the unfathomable_pain he's been_forced_to endure._He_seems ageless, beyond what any human_could_hope to reach in life, scarred so_deeply it's reflected in_what's_left of his soul,_but buoyed by a deep_sense of purpose and love. I_stumble to_my feet._Salt clenched in my fist for a useless attack rains from_my fingers like the discarded bits_of someone's soul.

"Archer," I_whisper when_I_finally shake off_my_shock. Tears_pour down my face. I don't know_if they're_from joy that he's free or_the harsh realization that_this_will be the last time I_ever see him. Whatever the reason,_Archer responds immediately and is_at_my_side in an instant.

He feels_different as his arms wrap around_me, less solid_than yesterday. Every second he holds me,_more_and more of him slips away_and_I cry harder. "Shh, it's okay,_Echo,"_his_voice whispers not in my_head this time, but through the_air like any other person in the room. "It's_okay now."

"I can_feel you leaving," I argue,_but_I_hold back saying that he's leaving me, most of all.

"Part_of me_will always be_with you, remember?" Archer says. "We're forever linked like Kyran_said."

The lightness to his voice is so_beautiful, because I can hear the joy in