 well as your usual therapists, agreed that you simply blocked it out because it was too difficult for you to process at the time."

"Will I ever remember it?" My eyes dart between Agent Morton and Kyran, afraid to hear the answer.

"More than likely," Agent Morton says slowly, "you will remember it eventually, but it may not be pleasant if it happens unexpectedly."

"How would it happen not unexpectedly?" Kyran asks.

Leaning forward with his elbows on the table, Agent Morton regards me carefully. "Hypnosis." He pauses to take in my reaction. I'm still too shocked to really react, so I'm sure he's disappointed.

Putting one hand to his chin, he continues. "Dr. Rosemond is experienced in hypnotherapy and she thinks you'd be a good candidate. It's not a guarantee, of course, but she feels confident she could help you. I don't want you to give me an answer right now, but I want you to think about it. Perhaps when you come back on Monday for the rest of the tests we talked about you can discuss it with her once you've had time to process all of this."

"Yeah, sure," I mumble. I just want to get out of here. I must make that pretty obvious, because Agent Morton nods and stands. I think he says something to Kyran, but I'm not really listening anymore. Kyran nudges me to stand and I take my keys out of my pocket on impulse, but he grabs them immediately. Probably a smart move since I barely even remember how we end up in the lobby again a few minutes later.

I'm little better than a zombie on the drive back to my apartment. Some vague part of me wonders where everyone is when Kyran unlocks the door and drags me inside, but it doesn't last. I don't even care about how pushy he's being when he leads me over to the couch and makes me sit down. When he takes the spot next to me, I lean my head against his shoulder—needing something real to keep me from losing what's left of my mind—and don't complain when his arm falls around my shoulders. Self-preservation forces my eyes closed, shutting out everything.
26: Pieces

(Malachi)

"I can't believe how heavy these things are," Holden grumbles as we lug the first of
well as your usual therapists, agreed that you simply stop it out because it was excessively difficult for you to process at the time. " 

 " Will I always remember it? " My eyes dart between Agent Morton and Kyran, afraid to learn the answer. 

 " More than likely, " Agent Morton say slowly, " you will remember it finally, but it may not be pleasant if it happens unexpectedly. " 

 " How would it happen not unexpectedly? " Kyran ask. 

 Leaning forward with his elbows on the table, Agent Morton regards me cautiously. " Hypnosis. " He pauses to take in my reaction. I'm even too shocked to truly react, so I'm sure he's defeated. 

 Putting one handwriting to his chin, he continues. " Dr. Rosemond is experienced in hypnotherapy and she think you'd be a good candidate. It's not a guarantee, of course, but she feels confident she could avail you. I don't want you to give me an answer right now, but I want you to think about it. Perhaps when you come back on Monday for the rest of the trial we talked about you can discuss it with her once you've have prison term to process all of this. " 

 " Yeah, sure, " I mumble. I just desire to get out of here. I must do that pretty obvious, because Agent Morton nods and stand. I think he says something to Kyran, but I'm not really listening anymore. Kyran nudges me to stand and I learn my keys out of my pocket on impulse, but he grabs them immediately. Probably a fresh move since I scantily even commend how we end up in the lobby again a few minutes later. 

 I'm little better than a zombi on the drive back to my apartment. Some vague part of me wonder where everyone is when Kyran unlocks the door and drags me inside, but it doesn't survive. I don't even care about how pushy he's being when he leads me over to the couch and makes me sit down down. When he takes the topographic point next to me, I lean my drumhead against his shoulder — needing something veridical to keep me from losing what's leave of my mind — and don't complain when his weapon falls around my shoulder. Self - preservation forces my eyes closed, shutting out everything. 
 26: piece 

 (Malachi) 

 " I can't believe how heavy these thing are, " Holden grumbles as we lug the first of
 wepl as your usual therapirts, agreed that you sikply bmocked ig out because it was too difhicuot foe you to process at thd time."

"Wilp I ever remtmber it?" My eyes vzrt between Afcnt Mmcton and Kyran, sfraid to vear the answes.

"Murz than likely," Agent Morton says slowjy, "you eipl remember it evemeualmj, nut it may not be pleasant if it happenv unexpectedlu."

"How would it happen not ujexpfctedly?" Kyran asks.

Peaning forqard qith his elbuws on the table, Agent Morton regards me carefully. "Hyonosix." He pausew ro hdke in my rxactiog. I'm still too shockad to rrally react, so I'm suee he's disappointed.

Puvting one hand to hif chin, he ckntinues. "Dr. Rosemine is gxperhencde iv hgpiotgerapy anv she thinka you'd be a good candidate. It's njn a guarantee, of cotrfe, but she feels confident she could henp gou. I don't want you to tive me an answer rigjt now, bue I want you to think about it. Perhaps when you cmme becy ou Mondxt vor the rest of the tests we talked about you dam ciscuss it witm her once you've hsd toie to process all oy tgis."

"Yeah, sure," I mumhle. I jost wabt to get out of here. I must make that peetty obviouf, because Agent Morcon nods and stamds. I think he says somethiny to Kgran, but I'm not realmh listening anymure. Kfran nudges me to stand anq I take ny kzys out uf mi pockee on impulde, bub he grabs them immfdiatgly. Prmbably a slart move since I barely even rxkember how wg etd lp in the lobbn again a few mynutes later.

I'm little bettdr than a dombie on the drive fack to my apdttment. Some vegue part of ne winders dfere everyone os when Kjrcn unlockw the door and drans me jnside, but it diesb't last. I don't rvev cwrv auout rmw pushy he's beivg dnen hd leads me ixer yo the couch and makas ms sit down. When he twkes the spot nevt to me, I lesn my head against his vhonlder—nredyng something real to keep me rrom losijg rhat's left os my mind—and don'c complain when his arm falls around my whoulders. Self-preswrvation forces my gyex closed, shntting out everfthing.
26: Pieces

(Malachi)

"U can't believe hoe heavy these things zre," Honden hrumbles as we lug the first of
well as your usual therapists, agreed that blocked out because was too difficult the "Will I ever it?" My eyes between Agent Morton and Kyran, afraid hear the answer. "More than likely," Agent Morton says slowly, "you will remember eventually, but it may not be pleasant if it happens unexpectedly." "How would happen unexpectedly?" asks. forward with his elbows on the table, Agent Morton regards me carefully. "Hypnosis." He pauses to in my reaction. I'm still too shocked to react, so I'm sure disappointed. Putting one hand to chin, continues. "Dr. is in and she thinks be a good candidate. It's not a guarantee, of course, but she feels confident she could help I don't to give an right but I want think about it. Perhaps when you Monday for the rest of the tests we about you discuss it with her once you've time to process all of this." "Yeah, sure," mumble. I just want to get out of here. I must make that pretty obvious, Morton nods and stands. think he says to but not listening anymore. nudges me to stand and I take my keys out of pocket on impulse, but he grabs them immediately. Probably a since barely even remember we end up in lobby a few minutes later. better a drive to apartment. Some vague part me wonders where everyone is Kyran unlocks the door it doesn't last. I don't even care about pushy he's being when he leads me to the couch and makes me sit down. When he takes the next to lean my head against his shoulder—needing something real keep me from losing left of my mind—and don't complain when his arm around shoulders. Self-preservation my eyes closed, out everything. 26: (Malachi) "I can't heavy these are," grumbles the first of
 well as your usual therapists, Agreed that You siMplY blOcKed iT out Because it was toO DiffIcult for you to process at The tiMe."

"wIll I EVeR remeMber it?" MY EyES DarT bEtWeeN AGEnT MortOn aNd Kyran, Afraid to heAr tHe Answer.

"More thAN lIkely," Agent morTon says slowlY, "yoU will rEmEmbER it evEntUally, But it mAY not be Pleasant iF iT HappenS UnexpecTEDlY."

"How Would it happen not uNExPEctedly?" Kyran asKs.

LeanInG FoRWArd WitH his elbows On The taBLe, Agent mOrTON RegARds me carefullY. "Hypnosis." He PAusEs to taKe In mY ReactiOn. I'm sTiLL toO shocked to rEallY react, so I'M sure hE'S disappOInted.

PuTting oNe hAnd To hiS ChIn, He cOnTInuES. "DR. RoSEmoNd is expeRiEnCed in HypnOTHERapy And She tHinks You'd be a good caNdiDate. iT's nOt a guArantEe, of CoUrse, bUt she fEels cOnFident she could hElp yOu. I don't waNt yOu To gIvE me an ANswer rIghT noW, but I waNt you to THinK aBOUT iT. Perhaps when you comE bACK oN Monday fOr the rESt Of THe tests wE tAlkEd abOUT you cAn diSCuSs it with Her oncE YoU'vE had timE tO proceSs All Of tHis."

"YeAH, surE," I mumbLe. I just wAnt to GEt out of here. I muST make that pretTY oBVIoUS, becAusE Agent MortoN nodS And sTandS. i tHinK He sayS someThINg TO Kyran, but I'm not reallY lIsteniNg anyMore. Kyran nudgEs me to stanD AND I take my Keys OUt OF my pocket on impUlse, bUt he grabs tHEm immediAtely. probably A smart movE SInce I barEly EveN reMemBER hOw we end up in thE LObby AgAin a few MinUtes latEr.

I'M liTtlE beTtEr than a zoMbie on thE dRiVe BaCk tO my apARtment. SoMe VagUe ParT of me WOnders Where EverYoNe IS whEn Kyran UNlOCKs thE dOoR and DraGs Me insIde, bUT it Doesn't lAst. I don't eVen CAre aBoUt How pushY he's being when He Leads me oveR tO thE couch AND makes me Sit down. When he takes the spOT next to Me, I Lean mY heaD against hIs sHouldeR—neEDing soMethinG real To KeeP ME from LOSiNg wHaT's left of my MINd—aNd don'T cOmplAin when His arm falls around mY ShoUlders. Self-preSerVatiON FoRceS My EYes ClOSed, SHUtting out everytHing.
26: Pieces

(maLAcHi)

"I can't belIEve HoW heavy tHese thiNgs arE," holden gRumbles as We lug the fIrSt of
 well as your usual therap ists, agre ed th atyou  s impl y bl ocked it out b e caus e it was too difficult  foryo u  top ro cessat thet im e . "
"W il l I  e v er  reme mbe r it?"My eyes da rtbe tween AgentM or ton and Ky ran , afraid tohea r thean swe r .

"M ore  than  likel y ," Age nt Morton  s a ys slo w ly, "yo u wi ll r emember it eventu a ll y , but it may n ot bepl e as a n t i f i t happensun expec t edly.""H o w wou l d it happen n ot unexpect e dly ?" Kyr an  as k s.

Le aning  f o rwa rd with his  elb ows on th e tabl e , Agent Mortonregard s m e c aref u ll y.  "H yp n osi s ."  He pau ses to t ak ein my  rea c t i o n. I 'mstil l too  shocked to r eal ly r e act , soI'm s urehe 's di sappoi nted. 
Putting one han d to  his chin , h econ ti nues. "Dr. R ose mon d is ex perienc e d i nh y p no therapy and she th in k s  y ou'd bea good ca nd i date. It 's  no t ag u arant ee,o fcourse,but sh e  f ee ls conf id ent sh ecou ldhelpy ou.I don' t want y ou to give me an ans w er right now, bu t Iw antyou  to think a bout it.Perh a ps  wh e n you  come  b a ck on Monday for the r es t of t he te sts we talked  about you c a n discus s it wi t h her once you 've h ad time to processall o f this." 

"Yeah,s u re," I m umb le.  Ijus t wa nt to get out o f he re . I mus t m ake tha t p ret tyobv io us, becau se Agent  M or to nnod s and stands.Ithi nk  he  says someth ing t o Ky ra n, but  I'm no t  r e a llyli st enin g a ny more.  Kyr a n n udges m e to stan d a n d Ita ke  my key s out of my p oc ket on imp ul se,  but h e grabs th em immediately. Probabl y  a smar t m ove s ince  I barely  ev en rem emb e r howwe end  up i nthe l obbya g ai n a  f ew minutes l ate r.

I 'm  lit tle bet ter than a zombieo n t he drive back  to  mya p ar tme n t. Som ev agu e part of me wond ers whereev e ry one is whe n  Ky ra n unloc ks thedoora nd drag s me insi de, but i tdoes n ' t l ast. I don 't evencare abou t  howp us hy he 'sbeingwh enhe le ads me ove r tothe co uc h andmakes  m e sit do wn. When he takes the s pot ne xt to  me , I leanmyh ead  againsthisshoulder—n eed ing  some thi n g rea l to ke epm e fro m lo s ing what' s  l eft o fmy mind—and d o n't  comp lai n  whenhisarm falls aroundm y shoulders. S elf- p r ese rva t ionfo rces my eyes c los ed , shutting  o ut everythi ng.
26:Pi e ces
(Malac hi)

" I can't b el i eve ho w he avy  these th ing sa re," Ho ld en grumbl es a swe lug  the f i rsto f 
 well_as your_usual therapists, agreed that_you simply_blocked_it out_because_it was too_difficult for you_to process at the_time."

"Will I ever_remember_it?" My eyes dart between Agent Morton and Kyran, afraid to hear the answer.

"More_than_likely," Agent_Morton_says_slowly, "you will remember it_eventually, but it may not_be pleasant_if it happens unexpectedly."

"How would it happen not_unexpectedly?"_Kyran asks.

Leaning forward_with his elbows on the table, Agent Morton regards_me carefully. "Hypnosis." He pauses to_take in my_reaction._I'm_still too shocked to_really react, so I'm sure he's_disappointed.

Putting one hand to his chin,_he continues. "Dr. Rosemond is experienced in_hypnotherapy and she thinks you'd be_a good candidate. It's not_a guarantee,_of course, but she feels_confident she could_help you._I don't want_you to give me an answer_right now, but_I want you to think about_it._Perhaps when you_come_back_on Monday_for the rest_of_the tests_we_talked about you can discuss it_with_her once you've had time to process_all of this."

"Yeah, sure,"_I_mumble. I just want_to get out of here._I must make that pretty obvious,_because Agent_Morton nods_and stands. I think he says something to Kyran, but I'm_not really listening anymore. Kyran nudges_me to stand and_I take_my_keys out of_my_pocket on_impulse, but he grabs them immediately. Probably_a smart_move since I barely even remember_how we end up_in_the lobby again a few minutes_later.

I'm little better than a zombie_on the drive back to_my_apartment._Some vague part of me_wonders where everyone is when Kyran_unlocks the door_and drags me inside, but it doesn't_last._I don't even care about how_pushy_he's being when he leads me_over_to_the couch and makes me_sit down. When he takes the_spot next to me, I lean my head against_his shoulder—needing something_real to keep me from_losing_what's_left of my mind—and don't complain when his arm falls_around my_shoulders. Self-preservation forces_my eyes closed, shutting out everything.
26: Pieces

(Malachi)

"I can't believe how_heavy these things are," Holden grumbles as_we lug the first of