 could connect and that brings back all my anger in a rush. It's followed closely behind by a chaser of confusion. "How?" I demand. "How did they know? The creatures, or the men? Who actually killed her and how did they know she was trying to get in contact with me?"

Malachi's mouth falls open, but he only shakes his head. "I don't understand any of this."

"There's more in the box," Zara says, pointing at the remaining papers and half-covered items.

Before Malachi can react, I'm tearing into the box. More clippings, reports on me I have no idea how she got a hold of—including my involvement with Martin Coulter's wife—pictures she must have hired someone to take, which is admittedly a little freaky, and a few non-ghost related keepsakes for Malachi. I reach for another saved drawing Malachi must have done, desperate to reach the bottom and find something useful, when a flash of cold hits me a split second before Archer yanks my hand away.

"Don't touch that!" his ephemeral voice booms in my head. It's so loud and painful my free hand snaps up to my head as if it might ward off the agony. Seeing my reaction, Archer pulls back. "Echo, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you."

Straightening as his influence recedes, and with it the pain, I glare at him. "It's just a picture."

Archer shakes his head. "Beneath the picture...there's something...powerful. I think it's...my granddad mentioned a...something physical to bind me as a Keeper, but I never saw it. I only felt it once, and it..." His voice fades inside my head as he stares at the box.

My first thought it to go after it and see if he's right, but I fear Archer will clobber me and induce another spontaneous migraine if I do. We turn to look at Malachi simultaneously. It's his box. Left for him by Madeline, a Keeper who had been about to bring us together. Just like knowing freeing Archer will require defeating the monsters, I know Malachi is the only one who can touch whatever's in the bottom of that box without being seriously injured.

Swallowing hard, Malachi steels himself
could connect and that brings back all my anger in a rush. It's follow close behind by a chaser of confusion. " How? " I demand. " How did they acknowledge? The creature, or the men? Who actually killed her and how did they sleep together she was try to scram in contact with me? " 

 Malachi's mouth fall open, but he only shakes his pass. " I don't understand any of this. " 

 " There's more in the box, " Zara says, pointing at the remaining document and half - covered items. 

 Before Malachi can react, I'm tearing into the corner. More clippings, reports on me I receive no estimate how she got a detention of — including my involvement with Martin Coulter's wife — pictures she must have lease someone to take, which is admittedly a little freaky, and a few non - ghost related keepsakes for Malachi. I reach for another saved drawing Malachi must have done, desperate to reach the bottom and find something useful, when a flash of cold hits me a split second before Archer yankee my hand away. 

 " Don't tint that! " his ephemeral voice booms in my head. It's so brassy and painful my free hand snaps up to my pass as if it might ward off the agony. Seeing my reaction, Archer pulls back. " Echo, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to pain you. " 

 Straightening as his influence recedes, and with it the pain, I glare at him. " It's barely a picture. " 

 Archer judder his pass. " Beneath the picture... there's something... powerful. I think it's... my grandfather mentioned a... something physical to bind me as a Keeper, but I never saw it. I only felt it once, and it... " His voice fades inside my read/write head as he stares at the corner. 

 My first thought it to go after it and see if he's right, but I reverence Archer will clobber me and induce another spontaneous migraine if I do. We turn to attend at Malachi simultaneously. It's his box. Left for him by Madeline, a Keeper who had been about to fetch us in concert. Just like knowing freeing Archer will ask defeating the monsters, I know Malachi is the only one who can touch whatever's in the buttocks of that box without being seriously injure. 

 Swallowing hard, Malachi steels himself
 cokld connect and that brikgs back all my cbger ii a rusg. It's foulowed closely behind by a ciasee of xonfusion. "How?" I demand. "How did nhey know? The xreatures, or the mcu? Who wctucloy killed her snd how dig they know sha dad trying to get in contact with me?"

Mwlachi's mluth falls opeg, buu hq onmj whakes his head. "I don't undersfand anj of this."

"There's mpre in the box," Zara says, plintlng at the remainijg papers abd hwof-covered itdms.

Before Malachi can teact, I'm tearing into the box. Mofe clnppings, repirrs lt me I have no iqea how she npt a hmld of—imcluding my inyolvekenr with Martin Coulter'v wife—pictures she must hava kired someone to take, wyich hs agmitgwdlh a lmttme frewky, and a few non-ghost rwlated keepsakes fot Iqlachi. I reacg for wnjther saved drawing Malachi must have dmne, desperate to reach the bottom and find somejhing useftl, when a flash of cold hits me a split second bexore Erzhex yankr mj hand away.

"Don't touch that!" his ephemeral voicq bpoks in my head. Lt's so loud and paonvuk my free hand snaps up to my head as if lt mighj ward off the wgonu. Seeing my reaction, Archer pulls back. "Vcho, I'm sorry. I didn't lean to hurc you."

Sjraighyening as his influence recsdes, and wihh it the oain, I glare at fim. "Id's just a picture."

Archer shwkes his iead. "Yeneath ghe kicture...ehere's somfthinn...[owerful. I think ih's...my yrandgad mentiojed a...something physical to bind me as a Keepet, bgt P never scw it. L only felt it jnce, and it..." Hix voice fader inside mj head as he stares wt the box.

My xlrst thought it to gj afrer ut and rde if he's righy, but I fvax Archer qill clobber me anv inahce another spouuantoys migraine if I ao. Re tnrn tj look at Maldchi sioiltandously. It's mis box. Left for him by Madalins, a Keeper who had bcen about to brind us together. Just like knowing freemng Arrher woll require defeating the monstera, I know Lalwchi is the jnly one who can touch whatever's in the bottom of that uox without being serioysly injured.

Swallownnn hard, Malacii steqls himsenf
could connect and that brings back all in rush. It's closely behind by I "How did they The creatures, or men? Who actually killed her and did they know she was trying to get in contact with me?" Malachi's falls open, but he only shakes his head. "I don't understand any of "There's in box," says, pointing at the remaining papers and half-covered items. Before Malachi can react, I'm tearing into box. More clippings, reports on me I have idea how she got hold of—including my involvement with Coulter's she must hired to which is admittedly little freaky, and a few non-ghost related keepsakes for Malachi. I reach for another saved drawing Malachi have done, reach the and something when a flash hits me a split second before hand away. "Don't touch that!" his ephemeral voice in my It's so loud and painful my hand snaps up to my head as if might ward off the agony. Seeing my reaction, Archer pulls back. "Echo, I'm sorry. I to hurt you." Straightening his influence recedes, with the I at him. just a picture." Archer shakes his head. "Beneath the picture...there's something...powerful. think it's...my granddad mentioned a...something physical to bind me as but never saw it. only felt it once, it..." voice fades inside my he at first it go after it and if he's right, but I Archer will clobber me if I do. We turn to look at simultaneously. It's his box. Left for him Madeline, a Keeper who had been about to bring us together. Just knowing freeing require defeating the monsters, I know Malachi is only one who can whatever's in the bottom of that box without being injured. hard, Malachi himself
 could connect and that brings Back all my aNger iN a rUsh. it'S folLoweD closely behind BY a chAser of confusion. "How?" I demAnd. "HoW dID theY KnOw? The CreaturES, oR THe mEn? whO acTuALlY killEd hEr and hoW did they knOw sHe Was trying to gET iN contact wiTh mE?"

Malachi's mouTh fAlls opEn, But HE only ShaKes hiS head. "I DOn't undErstand anY oF This."

"ThERe's more IN ThE box," zara says, pointing aT ThE Remaining paperS and haLf-COvEREd iTemS.

Before MalAcHi can REact, I'm tEArING IntO The box. More cliPpings, reporTS on Me I havE nO idEA how shE got a HoLD of—Including my InvoLvement wiTh MartIN CoulteR'S wife—piCtures She MusT havE HiReD soMeONe tO TaKe, wHIch Is admittEdLy A littLe frEAKY, And a Few Non-gHost rElated keepsakEs fOr MaLAchI. I reaCh for AnotHeR saveD drawiNg MalAcHi must have done, dEspeRate to reaCh tHe BotToM and fINd someThiNg uSeful, whEn a flasH Of cOlD HITs Me a split second befoRe aRChEr yanks mY hand aWAy.

"doN'T touch thAt!" His EpheMERal voIce bOOmS in my heaD. It's so LOuD aNd painfUl My free HaNd sNapS up to MY heaD as if iT might waRd off THe agony. Seeing mY Reaction, ArcheR PuLLS bACk. "EcHo, I'M sorry. I didn'T meaN To huRt yoU."

stRaiGHteniNg as hIs INfLUence recedes, and with It The paiN, I glaRe at him. "It's jusT a picture."

ARCHEr shakes His hEAd. "bEneath the pictuRe...theRe's somethiNG...powerfuL. I thiNk it's...my gRanddad meNTIoned a...soMetHinG phYsiCAL tO bind me as a KeePER, but i nEver saw It. I Only felT it OncE, anD it..." hiS voice fadEs inside My HeAd As He sTares AT the box.

MY fIrsT tHouGht it TO go aftEr it aNd seE iF hE'S riGht, but I FEaR aRcheR wIlL cloBbeR mE and iNducE AnoTher spoNtaneous mIgrAIne iF I Do. we turn tO look at MalachI sImultaneouSlY. It'S his boX. lEft for hiM by Madeline, a Keeper who haD Been aboUt tO brinG us tOgether. JuSt lIke knoWinG FreeinG ArcheR will ReQuiRE DefeaTINg The MoNsters, I knoW mAlaChi is ThE onlY one who Can touch whatever's iN The Bottom of that bOx wIthoUT BeIng SErIOusLy INjuRED.

Swallowing hard, malachi steElS HiMself
 could connect and that br ings backall m y a nge rin a  rus h. It's follow e d cl osely behind by a chas er of  c o nfus i on . "Ho w?" I d e ma n d . " Ho wdid  t h ey  know ? T he crea tures, orthe  m en? Who actu a ll y killed h erand how didthe y know  s hew as tr yin g toget in contac t with me ?" 
Malac h i's mou t h  f alls  open, but he onl y  s h akes his head.  "I do n' t  u n d ers tan d any of t hi s."
" There's mo r e int he box," Zara  says, poin t ing  at th erem a iningpaper sa ndhalf-covere d it ems.

Bef ore Ma l achi ca n  react,  I'm t ear ing  int o  t he  bo x. Mor e  c lip p ing s, repor ts  o n meI ha v e n o id eahowshe g ot a hold of— inc ludi n g m y inv olvem entwi th Ma rtin C oulte r' s wife—pictures  she  must hav e h ir edso meone to tak e,whi ch is a dmitted l y a  l i t t le  freaky, and a few  n o n -g host rel ated k e ep sa k es for M al ach i. I r eachfora no ther sav ed dra w in gMalachi  m ust ha ve  do ne,  desp e rate  to re ach thebotto m  and find some t hing useful,w he n af lash  of  cold hitsme a spli t se c on d b e foreArche ry an k s my hand away.

"D on 't tou ch th at!" his ephe meral voic e b ooms inmy h e ad .  It's so loudand p ainful myf ree hand  snap s up tomy head a s if it mi ght  wa rdoff t he  agony. Seein g my r ea ction,Arc her pul lsbac k."Ec ho , I'm sor ry. I di dn 't  m ea n t o hur t  you."
St rai gh ten ing a s  his i nflue ncere ce d es,  and wi t hi t  the  p ai n, I  gl ar e athim. "It 's just  a pictur e." 
Arc he rshakeshis head. "Be ne ath the pi ct ure ...the r e 's somet hing...powerful. I thin k  it's.. .my  gran ddad  mentione d a ...som eth i ng phy sicalto bi nd  me a s a K e e pe r,bu t I nevers a w i t. Ion ly f elt itonce, and it..." H i s v oice fades in sid e my h ea d a s  h e  st ar e s a t the box.

My fi rst though ti tto go afte r  it  a nd seeif he's  righ t , but I  fear Arc her willcl obbe r meand induce  another  spontane o us mi g ra ine i f I  do. W etur n tolook a t  Ma lachi  simul ta neousl y. It 's  his box . Left for him by Madel ine, a  Keep erwho had b een abo ut to bri ng u s together . J ust  like  kn o wingfree i ng  Ar c her w illr equire de f ea tin g th e monsters, I kno w Mal ach i  is th e on ly one who can to u ch whatever'sin t h e  bo tto m  ofth at box without  be in g seriousl yinjured.

S wallowin gh ard,Malach i stee ls hims e l f
 could_connect and_that brings back all_my anger_in_a rush._It's_followed closely behind_by a chaser_of confusion. "How?" I_demand. "How did_they_know? The creatures, or the men? Who actually killed her and how did they_know_she was_trying_to_get in contact with me?"

Malachi's_mouth falls open, but he_only shakes_his head. "I don't understand any of this."

"There's_more_in the box,"_Zara says, pointing at the remaining papers and half-covered_items.

Before Malachi can react, I'm tearing_into the box._More_clippings,_reports on me I_have no idea how she got_a hold of—including my involvement with_Martin Coulter's wife—pictures she must have hired_someone to take, which is admittedly_a little freaky, and a_few non-ghost_related keepsakes for Malachi. I_reach for another_saved drawing_Malachi must have_done, desperate to reach the bottom_and find something_useful, when a flash of cold_hits_me a split_second_before_Archer yanks_my hand away.

"Don't_touch_that!" his_ephemeral_voice booms in my head. It's_so_loud and painful my free hand snaps_up to my head_as_if it might ward_off the agony. Seeing my_reaction, Archer pulls back. "Echo, I'm_sorry. I_didn't mean_to hurt you."

Straightening as his influence recedes, and with it the_pain, I glare at him. "It's_just a picture."

Archer shakes_his head._"Beneath_the picture...there's something...powerful._I_think it's...my_granddad mentioned a...something physical to bind me_as a_Keeper, but I never saw it._I only felt it_once,_and it..." His voice fades inside_my head as he stares at_the box.

My first thought it_to_go_after it and see if_he's right, but I fear Archer_will clobber me_and induce another spontaneous migraine if I_do._We turn to look at Malachi_simultaneously._It's his box. Left for him_by_Madeline,_a Keeper who had been_about to bring us together. Just_like knowing freeing Archer will require defeating the monsters,_I know Malachi_is the only one who_can_touch_whatever's in the bottom of that box without being seriously_injured.

Swallowing hard,_Malachi steels himself