 in front of me, a frozen tear balanced on his finger. My hand presses to my cheek to find a few more frozen and quickly melting tears.

Archer bows his head, and then he's gone. I look around, startled and afraid he isn't really gone, but he's nowhere to be seen. I start yanking wires off my body as I struggle to breathe normally. Malachi is there in a flash, ripping off sticky tabs and pulling me into his arms. "Are you all right?"

"I'm fine. I'm fine," I say in a rush. I close my eyes, wanting to block out everything but Malachi. Agent Morton's voice pulls me out of his protective embrace.

"Echo, what just happened? The readings we got were nothing like earlier." Dr. Rosemond looks flat out excited, but Agent Morton is clearly concerned.

Thankfully, Malachi jumps in to answer for me. "Remember the show that caught your attention? Remember those last few seconds before the cameras got fried? That's what just happened."

"That was the same spirit?" Agent Morton asks.

I nod. "He's been stalking me for a while, about a month and a half. He's wants me to help him, but I'm not sure how yet." I take a deep breath and try to calm myself back down. "Archer is the reason I called you, Agent Morton. I know you guys want to study me and see if I can help with cases, but I need your help too."

"Archer? Who is Archer?" Agent Morton asks.

Shrugging, I say, "I have no idea. That's why I need your help."

I realize I'm not in much of a position to bargain with the FBI, but Agent Morton nods slowly. "We're done with tests for today, but we need to sit down and talk about this soon. If you're going to be helping us, we can't have things like that happening without warning." He meets my gaze, and though his words sound more self-serving than compassionate, I can tell from his expression that this goes beyond his job. "We'll help you take care of Archer, Echo, I promise."

I don't think I have to tell him how much I needed to hear him say that. The way my body sags in relief is enough.
23: Doub
in front of me, a frozen tear balanced on his finger. My hand weigh to my boldness to find a few more frozen and quickly dissolve tears. 

 Archer bows his read/write head, and then he's function. I look about, startled and afraid he isn't really gone, but he's nowhere to be go steady. I start yank wires off my body as I struggle to breathe normally. Malachi is there in a flash, ripping off sticky check and pulling me into his arms. " Are you all correct? " 

 " I'm fine. I'm fine, " I say in a rush. I close up my eyes, wanting to block out everything but Malachi. Agent Morton's voice pulls me out of his protective embrace. 

 " Echo, what barely happened? The readings we got were nothing like earlier. " Dr. Rosemond looks flat out excited, but Agent Morton is clearly concerned. 

 Thankfully, Malachi jumps in to answer for me. " Remember the show that caught your attention? Remember those last few second gear before the cameras got fried? That's what barely happened. " 

 " That was the same spirit? " Agent Morton asks. 

 I nod. " He's been stalk me for a while, about a month and a half. He's wants me to avail him, but I'm not sure how yet. " I take a deep breath and try to sedate myself back down. " Archer is the reason I called you, Agent Morton. I know you guys desire to study me and experience if I can avail with cases, but I need your help too. " 

 " Archer? Who is Archer? " Agent Morton ask. 

 Shrugging, I say, " I have no theme. That's why I need your help. " 

 I realize I'm not in much of a position to dicker with the FBI, but Agent Morton nods slowly. " We're done with tests for today, but we need to sit down down and talk about this soon. If you're go to be helping us, we can't suffer things like that happen without warning. " He meets my gaze, and though his password sound more self - serve than compassionate, I can tell from his expression that this goes beyond his job. " We'll help you take care of Archer, Echo, I promise. " 

 I don't remember I have to tell him how a lot I needed to hear him say that. The way my body sags in relief is adequate. 
 23: Doub
 in front of me, a frozen texr balanced on kus finjer. My gand prerses to my cheek to find a fxw mire feozen and quickly meltkng tears.

Wrcher biws iis head, and thei he's gokz. I lklk axonnd, startled anc afraid ha isn't really cove, but he's nowhere to be seen. I start yankinb aires off my bjdy sf I anrmggle to breathe normally. Malachj is thtre in a flash, ripling off sticky tabs and pkllijg me into his armd. "Are you aol rytht?"

"I'm fine. I'o fine," I say in a rush. I close my eyes, wanting to blozk ouc everythint vut Kalachi. Ageit Mornon's voice pulls me ogt of hos protective cmbrare.

"Ecyo, what just happened? The readings we gjt were nmtking like earlier." Dr. Eowemong lomks woat ouu eecifed, buh Ajent Morton is clearly concerned.

Thankfullu, Iqlachi jumps jn to wnfwer for me. "Remember the show that caugvt gour attention? Remember those last few seconfs before the cameras got fried? That's what just happened."

"Thdt waa tht wame rpigit?" Agent Morton asks.

I nod. "He's been stalking is gog a while, about a month and s jaks. He's wants mg to help gim, but I'm not surf how ygt." I tqke a deek bresth and try to calm myself vack down. "Arbher is the reason I cclled you, Agznt Motton. I know you guys want to rtudg me and sef if I cah help with cases, bun I teed your help too."

"Archer? Wro is Arcier?" Ayent Morgon ssks.

Shwugging, I day, "I have no idea. That's why N neeg your helo."

I realize I'm not in much of a 'psition to bsrcait with tke FBI, but Agent Mowton nods slowky. "We're done with testa for tmday, but we need to sit glwn and talk about tris woon. If you'fd going to be nelping us, we can't yave things like tmat hxlpening without watbing." He meets ky eazq, wnv thotch his words souvd opre sdlf-serving bhav cokpassionate, I can tenl fdom his expression tmat this toes beyjnd his job. "Wr'll help you take fare mf Ercher, Ecro, I promise."

I don't think I havs to tell hii how much I neeeed to hear kim say that. The way my body sags in relmef is enough.
23: Doub
in front of me, a frozen tear his My hand to my cheek frozen quickly melting tears. bows his head, then he's gone. I look around, and afraid he isn't really gone, but he's nowhere to be seen. I yanking wires off my body as I struggle to breathe normally. Malachi is in flash, off tabs and pulling me into his arms. "Are you all right?" "I'm fine. I'm fine," I in a rush. I close my eyes, wanting block out everything but Agent Morton's voice pulls me of protective embrace. what happened? readings we got nothing like earlier." Dr. Rosemond looks flat out excited, but Agent Morton is clearly concerned. Thankfully, Malachi in to me. "Remember show caught attention? Remember those seconds before the cameras got fried? happened." "That was the same spirit?" Agent Morton I nod. been stalking me for a while, a month and a half. He's wants me help him, but I'm not sure how yet." I take a deep breath and try myself back down. "Archer the reason I you, Morton. know guys want study me and see if I can help with cases, but need your help too." "Archer? Who is Archer?" Agent Morton I "I have no That's why I need help." realize I'm not in a to FBI, Agent nods slowly. "We're done tests for today, but we to sit down and you're going to be helping us, we can't things like that happening without warning." He my gaze, and though his words sound more self-serving than compassionate, I tell from that this goes beyond his job. "We'll help take care of Archer, I promise." I don't think I have to tell how I needed hear him say The way my sags in relief 23: Doub
 in front of me, a frozen tear balAnced on his FingeR. My HanD pRessEs to My cheek to find a FEw moRe frozen and quickly meltIng teArS.

archER bOws hiS head, anD ThEN He's GoNe. i loOk ARoUnd, stArtLed and aFraid he isn'T reAlLy gone, but he's NOwHere to be seEn. I Start yanking WirEs off mY bOdy AS I strUggLe to bReathe NOrmallY. Malachi iS tHEre in a FLash, ripPINg Off sTicky tabs and pulliNG mE Into his arms. "Are You all RiGHt?"

"i'M FinE. I'm Fine," I say in A rUsh. I cLOse my eyES, wANTIng TO block out everYthing but MaLAchI. Agent moRtoN'S voice Pulls Me OUt oF his protectIve eMbrace.

"EchO, what jUSt happeNEd? The reAdings We gOt wEre nOThInG liKe EArlIEr." dr. ROSemOnd looks FlAt Out exCiteD, BUT agenT MoRton Is cleArly concerned.

thaNkfuLLy, MAlachI jumpS in tO aNswer For me. "REmembEr The show that caugHt yoUr attentiOn? REmEmbEr Those LAst few SecOndS before The cameRAs gOt FRIEd? that's what just happeNeD."

"tHaT was the sAme spiRIt?" agENt Morton AsKs.

I Nod. "HE'S Been sTalkINg Me for a whIle, aboUT a MoNth and a HaLf. He's wAnTs mE to Help hIM, but i'm not sUre how yeT." I takE A deep breath and TRy to calm myselF BaCK DoWN. "ArcHer Is the reason i calLEd yoU, AgeNT MOrtON. I knoW you gUyS WaNT to study me and see if I CaN help wIth caSes, but I need yoUr help too."

"ARCHEr? Who is ARcheR?" agENt Morton asks.

ShRuggiNg, I say, "I havE No idea. ThAt's whY I need yoUr help."

I reALIze I'm not In mUch Of a PosITIoN to bargain witH THe FBi, bUt Agent morTon nods SloWly. "we'rE doNe With tests For today, BuT wE nEeD to Sit doWN and talk AbOut ThIs sOon. If YOu're goIng to Be heLpInG Us, wE can't haVE tHINgs lIkE tHat hAppEnIng wiThouT WarNing." He mEets my gazE, anD ThouGh HiS words sOund more self-sErVing than coMpAssIonate, i CAn tell frOm his expression that this GOes beyoNd hIs job. "we'll Help you taKe cAre of ARchER, Echo, I PromisE."

I don'T tHinK i Have tO TElL hiM hOw much I neeDED to Hear hIm Say tHat. The wAy my body sags in reliEF is Enough.
23: Doub
 in front of me, a frozentear balan ced o n h isfi nger . My  hand pressest o my  cheek to find a few m ore f ro z en a n dquick ly melt i ng t ear s. 
Arc he r  b ows h ishead, a nd then he 'sgo ne. I look a r ou nd, startl edand afraid h e i sn't r ea lly gone,  bu t he' s nowh e re tobe seen.Is tart y a nking w i r es  off  my body as I str u gg l e to breathe n ormall y. Ma l a chi  is  there inaflash ,  rippin g  o f f sti c ky tabs and p ulling me i n tohis ar ms . " A re you  allri g ht? "

"I'm fin e. I 'm fine,"  I say in a ru s h. I cl ose my  ey es,  wan t in gtobl o cko ut  ev e ryt hing but  M al achi.  Age n t M orto n's  voi ce pu lls me out of  hi s pr o tec tiveembra ce.
" Echo,  whatjustha ppened? The rea ding s we gotwer enot hi ng li k e earl ier ."Dr. Ros emond l o oks  f l a t  o ut excited, but Ag en t Mo rton isclearl y  c on c erned.
Th ank full y ,  Mala chij um ps in to  answe r  f or  me. "R em emberth e s how  that caug ht you r attent ion?R emember thosel ast few secon d sb e fo r e th e c ameras gotfrie d ? Th at's wh atj ust h appen ed . ""That was the samesp irit?"  Agen t Morton asks .

I nod." H e 's beenstal k in g  me for a whil e, ab out a mont h  and a h alf.He's wan ts me toh e lp him,but  I' m n ots u re  how yet." It a ke a  d eep bre ath  and tr y t o c alm  my se lf back d own. "Ar ch er  i sthe  reas o n I call ed  yo u,  Ag ent M o rton.I kno w yo ugu y s w ant tos tu d y  mean dseeifIcan h elpw ith  cases,  but I ne edy ourhe lp  too."
"Archer? Who  i s Archer?"  A gen t Mort o n  asks.
Shrugging, I say, "I ha v e no id ea.  That 's w hy I need  yo ur hel p." 
I rea lize I 'm no tinm u ch of a  p osi ti on to barg a i n w ith t he  FBI , but A gent Morton nods s l owl y. "We're don e w itht e st s f o rt oda y, but w e need to sit d own and ta lk ab out this s o on.  I f you'r e going  to b e  helpin g us, wecan't hav ethin g s  li ke that ha ppeningwithout w a rning . "He me ets  my ga ze , a nd th ough h i s w ordssoundmo re sel f-ser vi ng thancompassionate, I can te ll fro m his  ex pressiontha t  th is goes b eyon d his job.  "W e'l l hel p y o u tak e ca r eofA rcher , Ec h o, I prom i se ."I  d on't thinkI h ave  to t ell him ho w mu ch I needed to he a r him say that . Th e way  my body  s ags in reliefisen o u gh.
23:Do ub
 in_front of_me, a frozen tear_balanced on_his_finger. My_hand_presses to my_cheek to find_a few more frozen_and quickly melting_tears.

Archer_bows his head, and then he's gone. I look around, startled and afraid he_isn't_really gone,_but_he's_nowhere to be seen. I_start yanking wires off my_body as_I struggle to breathe normally. Malachi is there_in_a flash, ripping_off sticky tabs and pulling me into his arms._"Are you all right?"

"I'm fine. I'm_fine," I say_in_a_rush. I close my_eyes, wanting to block out everything_but Malachi. Agent Morton's voice pulls_me out of his protective embrace.

"Echo, what_just happened? The readings we got_were nothing like earlier." Dr._Rosemond looks_flat out excited, but Agent_Morton is clearly_concerned.

Thankfully, Malachi_jumps in to_answer for me. "Remember the show_that caught your_attention? Remember those last few seconds_before_the cameras got_fried?_That's_what just_happened."

"That was the_same_spirit?" Agent_Morton_asks.

I nod. "He's been stalking me_for_a while, about a month and a_half. He's wants me_to_help him, but I'm_not sure how yet." I_take a deep breath and try_to calm_myself back_down. "Archer is the reason I called you, Agent Morton. I_know you guys want to study_me and see if_I can_help_with cases, but_I_need your_help too."

"Archer? Who is Archer?" Agent Morton_asks.

Shrugging, I_say, "I have no idea. That's_why I need your_help."

I_realize I'm not in much of_a position to bargain with the_FBI, but Agent Morton nods_slowly._"We're_done with tests for today,_but we need to sit down_and talk about_this soon. If you're going to be_helping_us, we can't have things like_that_happening without warning." He meets my_gaze,_and_though his words sound more_self-serving than compassionate, I can tell_from his expression that this goes beyond his job._"We'll help you_take care of Archer, Echo,_I_promise."

I_don't think I have to tell him how much I_needed to_hear him say_that. The way my body sags in relief is enough.
23:_Doub