," Kyran drawls, "how about you ask why your girlfriend's pretty much comatose? Might be that she had a pretty rough morning, genius."

Holden is suddenly right in front of us, sitting down on the coffee table as he stares at his friend worriedly. Zara stands off to the side, fingers tapping nervously at her mouth. Clearly, she already knows something. Still slightly distracted by the fact the Echo's head in is my best friend's lap, I'm becoming more freaked out by the second.

"What happened? Her text said she was heading down to talk to Agent Morton, but then we never heard anything else."

Kyran motions for me to sit down somewhere and stop hovering. When I do, he starts talking. I feel sick to my stomach as he tells us about the camping trip, Echo having no memory of it, and what happened to Peter Archer. The first thought that comes to mind is Holden's comment a while back about how the ghosts are very protective of Echo. Did this Archer guy try to hurt her? It seems possible, but I toss it away a moment later. Archer is in love with Echo, not out to hurt her.

I'm trying to come up with another answer when I notice Kyran's hand moving back and forth across her arm slowly. I very nearly snap at him to stop touching her when I notice the red marks running down her upper arm. "Did one of the ghosts do that?" I demand. "Did Archer?"

Kyran rolls his eyes, which renews my desire to punch him. "Curling iron, dude." He shakes his head. "She dropped it this morning and it burned her. I took care of it."

It kills me that I wasn't here this morning, that she had to face all of this alone. Kyran's free hand pulls a strand of hair back from her face, reminding me that she wasn't alone, but not making me feel any better. Does everyone has some weird fixation on my girlfriend? Maybe I'm just reading more into things than I should, but Kyran makes no move to get up.

"How long has she been out?" I ask.

"About an hour," Kyran says. "Morton suggested hypnosis, but maybe there's another way to find out more, something that won't traumatize Echo any more than she already has been."

"And
, " Kyran drawls, " how about you ask why your girlfriend's pretty much comatose? Might be that she had a reasonably harsh morning, flair. " 

 Holden is on the spur of the moment right in front of us, model down on the coffee table as he gaze at his friend worriedly. Zara stands off to the english, fingers tapping nervously at her sass. intelligibly, she already knows something. Still slightly distracted by the fact the Echo's head in is my good friend's lap, I'm become more freaked out by the second. 

 " What happened? Her text said she was head down to talk to Agent Morton, but then we never heard anything else. " 

 Kyran motions for me to sit down somewhere and stop hover. When I do, he starts talking. I feel sick to my abdomen as he state us about the camping trip, Echo having no memory of it, and what happened to Peter Archer. The first thought that comes to mind is Holden's comment a while back about how the ghosts are very protective of Echo. Did this Archer guy test to hurt her? It seems potential, but I chuck it aside a moment later. Archer is in love with Echo, not out to hurt her. 

 I'm trying to come up with another answer when I detect Kyran's hand moving back and forth across her arm slowly. I very nearly snatch at him to stop touching her when I notice the red bell ringer running down her upper weapon. " Did one of the ghosts do that? " I demand. " Did Archer? " 

 Kyran rolls his eyes, which regenerate my desire to punch him. " Curling iron, dude. " He shakes his heading. " She dropped it this morning and it burned her. I took concern of it. " 

 It kills me that I wasn't here this dawn, that she had to face all of this entirely. Kyran's free hand pulls a strand of hair's-breadth back from her face, prompt me that she wasn't alone, but not making me feel any better. Does everyone has some eldritch fixation on my girlfriend? Maybe I'm just read more into things than I should, but Kyran makes no move to get up. 

 " How long has she been out? " I ask. 

 " approximately an hour, " Kyran says. " Morton suggested hypnosis, but possibly there's another way to find out more, something that won't traumatize Echo any more than she already has been. " 

 " And
," Kygan drawls, "how about you ask why your gnelfrieid's prefty much comatose? Might be that she iad q preuny rough morning, genijs."

Holden ps suddenoy rmght in front of us, sittlug dosk on chx coffee table ss he staras at his frietd wlrriedly. Zara stands off to the sidq, fingets tapping nervoosly se hed mouth. Clearly, she already knows aomethiig. Still slightky distracted by the fact hhe Fcho's head in is mj best friebd's jqp, I'm becomivg more frtaned out by the second.

"What happened? Her tebt sand she was yeqdijc down to telk to Agent Mortok, but tven we mever heard annthinj elwe."

Kyran motions for mx to sit down somewhgre and stmp hovering. When I eo, he sjarts talyung. I rexl aick tl mb stomach aa he tells ys about the campinb egop, Echo havihg no ieiory of it, and what happened to Peter Agched. The first thought thar comes to mind is Hopden's comient a while back about how the ghosts are very psotecvixe if Dxhl. Did this Archer guy try to hurt her? It seemf ppsxible, but I tofs it away s lokgnt later. Archgr is iu lkve with Echo, not lut to rurt yer.

I'm tryyng yo come up with another ansqer when I njrice Kyran's hand mlving back cnd fotth actoss her arm slowly. I vzry nezrly snap ah him to agop touching her whvn I notice ufe red marks runnyng down ier u'per arm. "Did one os the ghoshs do that?" I demand. "Did Wrchet?"

Kyran rolls his eyes, which renews my desire to punch him. "Curkitg pron, dude." He smakes his head. "Fhe dropped it this mjrnine and it blrned her. I took carq of it."

It kilnd me that I xasn't herq thus mirning, gfat she had to face all of this aoone. Kyran's free hend kumls a strand of haur back from het fxce, rvmiiding ke that she fasn'g aupne, bjt not makikg oe frel any better. Does avergone has some weirc nixation in my giwlfriend? Maybr I'm just reading lore mnto tiings yhag I should, but Kyran makes no jove to gft mp.

"How long haf shc begn out?" I asl.

"About an hour," Kyran says. "Morton suggesved hypnosis, but maybe rhere's another way jo nind out morx, someehing thad won't traumatize Ecyo any more than xhe already has been."

"Ahd
," Kyran drawls, "how about you ask girlfriend's much comatose? be that she genius." is suddenly right front of us, down on the coffee table as stares at his friend worriedly. Zara stands off to the side, fingers tapping at her mouth. Clearly, she already knows something. Still slightly distracted by the the head is best friend's lap, I'm becoming more freaked out by the second. "What happened? Her text said was heading down to talk to Agent Morton, then we never heard else." Kyran motions for me sit somewhere and hovering. I he starts talking. feel sick to my stomach as he tells us about the camping trip, Echo having no memory it, and to Peter The thought comes to mind comment a while back about how very protective of Echo. Did this Archer guy to hurt It seems possible, but I toss away a moment later. Archer is in love Echo, not out to hurt her. I'm trying to come up with another answer when Kyran's hand moving back forth across her slowly. very snap him to touching her when I notice the red marks running down her arm. "Did one of the ghosts do that?" I demand. Kyran his eyes, which my desire to punch "Curling dude." He shakes his dropped this burned I care of it." It me that I wasn't here morning, that she had alone. Kyran's free hand pulls a strand of back from her face, reminding me that wasn't alone, but not making me feel any better. Does everyone has weird fixation girlfriend? Maybe I'm just reading more into things I should, but Kyran no move to get up. "How long has she out?" ask. "About hour," Kyran says. suggested hypnosis, but there's another way out more, that traumatize than she already has been." "And
," Kyran drawls, "how about you ask Why your girLfrieNd's PreTtY mucH comAtose? Might be thAT she Had a pretty rough morning, GeniuS."

HOLden IS sUddenLy right IN fRONt oF uS, sIttInG DoWn on tHe cOffee taBle as he staRes At His friend worRIeDly. Zara staNds Off to the side, FinGers taPpIng NErvouSly At her Mouth. CLEarly, sHe already KnOWs someTHing. StiLL SlIghtLy distracted by the FAcT The Echo's head in Is my beSt FRiEND's lAp, I'M becoming mOrE freaKEd out by THe SECOnd.

"wHat happened? HeR text said shE Was HeadinG dOwn TO talk tO AgenT MORtoN, but then we nEver Heard anytHing elSE."

Kyran mOTions foR me to sIt dOwn SomeWHeRe And StOP hoVErIng. wHen i do, he staRtS tAlkinG. I feEL SICk to My sTomaCh as hE tells us about The CampINg tRip, EcHo havIng nO mEmory Of it, anD what HaPpened to Peter ArCher. the first tHouGhT thAt Comes TO mind iS HoLdeN's commeNt a whilE BacK aBOUT hOw the ghosts are very PrOTEcTive of EcHo. Did tHIs arCHer guy trY tO huRt heR? iT seemS posSIbLe, but I toSs it awAY a MoMent latEr. archer Is In lOve With ECHo, noT out to Hurt her.

I'M tryiNG to come up with aNOther answer whEN I NOTiCE KyrAn's Hand moving bAck aND forTh acROsS heR Arm slOwly. I VeRY nEArly snap at him to stop ToUching Her whEn I notice the rEd marks runNING down her UppeR ArM. "did one of the ghoSts do That?" I demanD. "did ArcheR?"

KyraN rolls hiS eyes, whicH REnews my dEsiRe tO puNch HIM. "CUrling iron, dudE." hE shaKeS his heaD. "ShE droppeD it ThiS moRniNg And it burnEd her. I toOk CaRe Of It."

IT killS Me that I wAsN't hErE thIs morNIng, thaT she hAd to FaCe ALl oF this alONe. kYRan's FrEe Hand PulLs A straNd of HAir Back froM her face, rEmiNDing Me ThAt she waSn't alone, but noT mAking me feeL aNy bEtter. DOES everyonE has some weird fixation on MY girlfrIenD? MaybE I'm jUst readinG moRe into ThiNGs than i shoulD, but KYrAn mAKEs no mOVE tO geT uP.

"How long haS SHe bEen ouT?" I Ask.

"ABout an hOur," Kyran says. "Morton SUggEsted hypnosis, But MaybE THeRe's ANoTHer WaY To fIND out more, somethiNg that won't TrAUmAtize Echo aNY moRe Than she Already Has beEN."

"And
," Kyran drawls, "how abou t you askwhy y our  gi rl frie nd's  pretty much c o mato se? Might be that shehad a  p r etty ro ugh m orning, ge n i us. "
H old en is  sudd enl y right  in frontofus , sitting do w non the cof fee  table as he  st ares a this frien d w orrie dly. Z a ra sta nds off t ot he sid e , finge r s  t appi ng nervously at h e rm outh. Clearly,  she a lr e ad y kno wssomething.  S tills lightly di s t r act e d by the fact  the Echo's hea d in i smyb est fr iend' sl ap,  I'm becomi ng m ore freak ed out by thes econd.
"What  ha ppe ned? He rtex ts aid sh e w a s h eading d ow nto ta lk t o A g entMor ton,  butthen we never  he arda nyt hingelse. "

K yr an mo tionsfor m eto sit down som ewhe re and st opho ver in g. Wh e n I do , h e s tarts t alking. I f ee l s ic k to my stomach as  h e te lls us a bout t h eca m ping tri p,  Ec ho h a v ing n o me m or y of it,  and w h at  h appened  t o Pete rArc her . The firs t thou ght that  come s  to mind is Ho l den's comment aw h il e  bac k a bout how th e gh o stsarev er y p r otect ive o fE ch o . Did this Archer g uy  try t o hur t her? It see ms possibl e , but I to ss i t  a w ay a moment la ter.Archer isi n love w ith E cho, not  out to h u r t her.
I'm  tr yin g t o co me up with an o t heran swer wh enI notic e K yra n's  ha nd  moving b ack andfo rt hac ros s her arm slow ly . I  v ery  near l y snap  at h im t ost o p t ouching he r when  I  n otic e t he  redmark s  ru nning d own her u ppe r  arm ."D id oneof the ghosts  d o that?" I  d ema nd. "D i d  Archer? "

Kyran rolls his eyes ,  whichren ews m y de sire to p unc h him.  "C u rlingiron,dude. "Hes h akesh i shea d.  "She drop p e d i t thi smorn ing and  it burned her. It ook  care of it." 

I t ki l l smet ha t  Iwa s n't h ere this mornin g, that sh eh ad  to face a l l o fthis al one. Ky ran's free ha nd pullsa strandof  hai r bac k from her  face, r emindingm e tha t  s he wa sn' t alon e,  bu t not  makin g  me  feel  any b et ter. D oes e ve ryone ha s some weird fixation o n my g irlfr ien d? MaybeI'm jus t reading  mor e into thi ngs  th an Isho u ld, b ut K y ra n m a kes n o mo v e to getu p. 

" H o wlong has sh e b een  out? " I ask.
"Abo ut an hour," Kyra n  says. "Morton  sug g e ste d h y pnos is , but maybe th ere 's a nother w ay  to find ou t more,so m ethin g that  won't  trauma t i ze Echo a ny m ore  than she  al re a dy hasbe en . "

"An d
," Kyran_drawls, "how_about you ask why_your girlfriend's_pretty_much comatose?_Might_be that she_had a pretty_rough morning, genius."

Holden is_suddenly right in_front_of us, sitting down on the coffee table as he stares at his friend_worriedly._Zara stands_off_to_the side, fingers tapping nervously_at her mouth. Clearly, she_already knows_something. Still slightly distracted by the fact the_Echo's_head in is_my best friend's lap, I'm becoming more freaked out_by the second.

"What happened? Her text_said she was_heading_down_to talk to Agent_Morton, but then we never heard_anything else."

Kyran motions for me to_sit down somewhere and stop hovering. When_I do, he starts talking. I_feel sick to my stomach_as he_tells us about the camping_trip, Echo having_no memory_of it, and_what happened to Peter Archer. The_first thought that_comes to mind is Holden's comment_a_while back about_how_the_ghosts are_very protective of_Echo._Did this_Archer_guy try to hurt her? It_seems_possible, but I toss it away a_moment later. Archer is_in_love with Echo, not_out to hurt her.

I'm trying_to come up with another answer_when I_notice Kyran's_hand moving back and forth across her arm slowly. I very_nearly snap at him to stop_touching her when I_notice the_red_marks running down_her_upper arm._"Did one of the ghosts do that?"_I demand._"Did Archer?"

Kyran rolls his eyes, which_renews my desire to_punch_him. "Curling iron, dude." He shakes_his head. "She dropped it this_morning and it burned her._I_took_care of it."

It kills me_that I wasn't here this morning,_that she had_to face all of this alone. Kyran's_free_hand pulls a strand of hair_back_from her face, reminding me that_she_wasn't_alone, but not making me_feel any better. Does everyone has_some weird fixation on my girlfriend? Maybe I'm just_reading more into_things than I should, but_Kyran_makes_no move to get up.

"How long has she been out?"_I ask.

"About_an hour," Kyran_says. "Morton suggested hypnosis, but maybe there's another way to_find out more, something that won't traumatize_Echo any more than she already has been."

"And