 I can do this," I cry. I don't even know if I mean letting him go, relying on Malachi, going to the old estate, or just living each day at a time. None of it seems possible right now. Everything I thought I knew about him and about myself has been obliterated. So many lies, so much confusion, it's too much and I can barely even process everything, let alone consider moving forward.

Archer's features solidify even more, still hazy and vague, but clear enough that I can see him smile. "You've survived everything up till now. You are strong enough, Echo. Don't ever doubt that."

"What if I'm only strong enough with you here?"

He kisses me one more time, gently, slowly. "I'll be there for this last fight, but it's the strength you're only beginning to recognize that will save you and the people you love."

"I'm scared, Archer." I'm shaking, trembling with fear that his confidence is misplaced. "What if I can't save Malachi?"

Archer's hazy expression becomes more serious as his grip on me tightens. "You're not supposed to save Malachi, Echo. He's supposed to save you."

"But, you said..."

He nods, cutting me off with what he says next. "You're not meant to save your Keeper. You're supposed to save the rest of the ghosts and the people who help them."

"Save them from who?" I ask, so completely floored my entire body feels numb.

A memory flashes through my mind of the oily black being that stole Archer from me five years ago. I flinch away from the memory but Archer's physical and spiritual hold refuses to let me run. He forces me to watch them devour him seconds before they turned their attention on me. It's only then that I realize I wasn't trying to fight them to get Archer back. I was trying to stop them from killing me, too.
33: Cryptic

(Echo)

Being the in the car with a ghost who's in love with me, my on-hold boyfriend, the guy who wanted to be my boyfriend, and an FBI agent is all kinds of awkward. Nobody's talking, at least not out loud. Whatever connection Archer and I forged yesterday after the hypnosis session hasn't diminished. While I'm
I can do this, " I cry. I don't even know if I mean permit him die, relying on Malachi, going to the old estate of the realm, or just living each day at a clock time. None of it seems possible properly now. Everything I thought I know about him and about myself has been obliterated. So many lies, so much confusion, it's too much and I can barely even action everything, let alone consider move forward. 

 Archer's features solidify even more, still hazy and obscure, but clear enough that I can see him smile. " You've survived everything up till now. You are strong enough, Echo. Don't always doubt that. " 

 " What if I'm only strong enough with you here? " 

 He kisses me one more time, gently, slowly. " I'll be there for this final fight, but it's the strength you're only beginning to recognize that will save you and the people you love. " 

 " I'm scared, Archer. " I'm shaking, tremble with concern that his confidence is misplaced. " What if I can't save Malachi? " 

 Archer's brumous expression becomes more serious as his bag on me tightens. " You're not supposed to save Malachi, Echo. He's supposed to save you. " 

 " But, you say... " 

 He nods, cutting me off with what he says next. " You're not meant to save your Keeper. You're supposed to spare the rest of the ghosts and the people who help them. " 

 " Save them from who? " I ask, thus completely floored my entire body feels asleep. 

 A memory flashes through my mind of the oily bootleg being that steal Archer from me five years ago. I flinch away from the memory but Archer's forcible and spiritual hold refuses to let me run. He storm me to watch them devour him second gear before they turned their care on me. It's only then that I realize I wasn't try on to fight them to get Archer back. I was trying to stop them from kill me, too. 
 33: Cryptic 

 (Echo) 

 Being the in the car with a ghost who's in love with me, my on - hold boyfriend, the guy who wanted to be my boyfriend, and an FBI agent is all kinds of awkward. Nobody's talk, at least not out loud. Whatever joining Archer and I forged yesterday after the hypnosis session hasn't diminish. While I'm
 I fan do this," I cry. I don't even know if I mean lxtting gim go, rdlying on Malachi, going to tie ood esucte, or just living exch day an a time. Bone if it seems possible riggb now. Xverything I thpught I knaw about him atd ayout myself has been obliterated. So iany lirs, so much confufion, yt's foo much and I can barely even prodess evtrything, let alone consider moving forward.

Arfher'd features solidifj even more, stijo hazy and vxgue, but clear enough jhat I can see him smile. "You've sjrvivzd everythibg up jill now. You are ftrong enougm, Echo. Gon't evrr doubt that."

"Wmat ih I'm only strong enough wmth you here?"

He kissef me one koxe time, gently, slowly. "I'ol be these fue tfis lest fight, buv it's the sfrength you'ee only beginning tp wvvognize that will fade you and the people you love."

"I'm scared, Ardher." I'm shaking, tremblibg with fear that his confidense is misplaced. "What if I can't save Malachi?"

Archer'v hazb dxpxcfruoj becomes more serious as his grip on me tighesnx. "Jou're not supposeb to save Malacho, Fcnj. He's supposea to scbe you."

"But, you said..."

He nods, cotting me off wyth ehat he says next. "You're not meant to sane yiur Keeper. You're sbpposed to scve thg rest of the ghosts and the 'eople who help tjem."

"Save tgdm from who?" I asy, sp wompletely floored my entiwe body fxels uumb.

A meoory flashqs through my mltd of the oily blafk benng tvat stole Wrcher from me five years ago. I flinch away ftom thv memory yut Argher's physical wnd spiritual kold refbses tu let me rln. He forres me to waech them devogt him seconds before ehey turbed thekf attention on me. It's oujy tyen that I realize I dzsn't trying to yngyt them to get Srcfer bwcl. Y was trying do sgop yhem wrom killinn md, top.
33: Cryptic

(Echo)

Being tve ih the car with a gnoft who's un love rith me, my on-nold boyfriend, the guy xho waited tp bg my boyfriend, and an FBI agent is all klndf of awkward. Nobidy's talking, at least not out loud. Whatever connectmon Archer and I forged yesterday after thg hnpnosis sessmon hafn't diminhshed. While I'm
I can do this," I cry. I know I mean him go, relying old or just living day at a None of it seems possible right Everything I thought I knew about him and about myself has been obliterated. many lies, so much confusion, it's too much and I can barely even everything, alone moving Archer's features solidify even more, still hazy and vague, but clear enough that I can see smile. "You've survived everything up till now. You strong enough, Echo. Don't doubt that." "What if I'm strong with you He me more time, gently, "I'll be there for this last fight, but it's the strength you're only beginning to recognize that save you people you "I'm Archer." shaking, trembling with his confidence is misplaced. "What if Malachi?" Archer's hazy expression becomes more serious as grip on tightens. "You're not supposed to save Echo. He's supposed to save you." "But, you He nods, cutting me off with what he says next. "You're not meant to save You're supposed to save rest of the and people help "Save them who?" I ask, so completely floored my entire body feels numb. memory flashes through my mind of the oily black being Archer me five years I flinch away from memory Archer's physical and spiritual to me me watch devour him seconds before turned their attention on me. only then that I fight them to get Archer back. I was to stop them from killing me, too. Cryptic (Echo) Being the in the car with a ghost who's in with me, boyfriend, the guy who wanted to be my and an FBI agent all kinds of awkward. Nobody's talking, at least not loud. connection Archer I forged yesterday the hypnosis session diminished. While I'm
 I can do this," I cry. I don't even knOw if I mean lEttinG hiM go, ReLyinG on MAlachi, going to tHE old Estate, or just living each Day at A tIMe. NoNE oF it seEms possIBlE RIghT nOw. eveRyTHiNg I thOugHt I knew About him anD abOuT myself has beEN oBliterated. so mAny lies, so mucH coNfusioN, iT's tOO much And i can bArely eVEn procEss everytHiNG, let alONe consiDER mOvinG forward.

Archer's feATuREs solidify even More, stIlL HaZY And VagUe, but clear EnOugh tHAt I can sEE hIM SMilE. "you've survived Everything uP TilL now. YoU aRe sTRong enOugh, EChO. don'T ever doubt tHat."

"WHat if I'm onLy stroNG enough WIth you hEre?"

He kIssEs mE one MOrE tIme, GeNTly, SLoWly. "i'Ll bE there foR tHiS last FighT, BUT It's tHe sTrenGth yoU're only beginnIng To reCOgnIze thAt wilL savE yOu and The peoPle yoU lOve."

"I'm scared, ArchEr." I'm Shaking, trEmbLiNg wItH fear THat his ConFidEnce is mIsplaceD. "whaT iF i CAn'T save Malachi?"

Archer'S hAZY eXpressioN becomES mOrE Serious aS hIs gRip oN ME tighTens. "yOu'Re not supPosed tO SaVe malachi, ecHo. He's sUpPosEd tO save YOu."

"BuT, you saId..."

He nods, CuttiNG me off with what HE says next. "You'rE NoT MEaNT to sAve Your Keeper. YOu're SUppoSed tO SaVe tHE rest Of the GhOStS And the people who help ThEm."

"Save Them fRom who?" I ask, so cOmpletely fLOORed my entIre bODy FEels numb.

A memorY flasHes through MY mind of tHe oilY black beIng that stOLE Archer fRom Me fIve YeaRS AgO. I flinch away fROM the MeMory but arcHer's phySicAl aNd sPirItUal hold reFuses to lEt Me RuN. HE foRces mE To watch tHeM deVoUr hIm secONds befOre thEy tuRnEd THeiR attentIOn ON Me. It'S oNlY theN thAt i realIze I WAsn'T trying To fight thEm tO Get ARcHeR back. I wAs trying to stoP tHem from kilLiNg mE, too.
33: CrYPTic

(Echo)

BEing the in the car with a ghoST who's in LovE with Me, my On-hold boyFriEnd, the Guy WHo wantEd to be My boyFrIenD, ANd an Fbi AgEnt Is All kinds of AWKwaRd. NobOdY's taLking, at Least not out loud. WhaTEveR connection ArCheR and i FOrGed YEsTErdAy AFteR THe hypnosis sessiOn hasn't dimInIShEd. While I'm
 I can do this," I cry. Idon't even  know  if  Ime an l etti ng him go, rel y ingon Malachi, going to t he ol de stat e ,or ju st livi n ge a chda yatat im e. No neof it s eems possi ble  r ight now. Ev e ry thing I th oug ht I knew ab out  him a nd  ab o ut my sel f has  beeno bliter ated. Soma n y lies ,  so muc h co nfus ion, it's too muc h  a n d I can barely  evenpr o ce s s  ev ery thing, let  a lonec onsider mo v i n g f o rward.

Arche r's feature s  so lidify  e ven more,still  h a zyand vague,butclear eno ugh th a t I can see him  smile . " You 'ves ur vi ved  e v ery t hi ngu p t ill now.  Y ou  arestro n g e noug h,Echo . Don 't ever doubt  th at." 
"W hat i f I'm  onl ystron g enou gh wi th  you here?"

He  kis ses me on e m or e t im e, ge n tly, s low ly.  "I'llbe ther e  fo rt h i slast fight, but it 's t he  strengt h you' r eon l y beginn in g t o re c o gnize  tha t  w ill save  you a n dth e peopl eyou lo ve ."
"I 'm sc a red,  Arche r." I'mshaki n g, trembling w i th fear thath is c on f iden ceis misplace d. " W hatif I ca n't saveMalac hi ? "Archer's hazy expre ss ion be comes  more serious  as his gr i p on me ti ghte n s. "You're not su ppose d to saveM alachi,Echo.  He's su pposed to s ave you. "
"Bu t,you s ai d..."

He nod s ,  cut ti ng me o ffwith wh athesay s n ex t. "You'r e not me an tto  s ave  your Keeper.Yo u'r esup posed to sav e the  res tof the  ghosts an d thepe op le w hohe lp th em." 
"S ave the m from wh o?" I as k,  s o compl etely floored  m y entire b od y f eels n u m b.

A me mory flashes through my mind of  th e oil y bl ack being  th at sto leA rcherfrom m e fiv eyea r s  ago. I  f lin ch  away from t hememor ybutArcher' s physical and spi r itu al hold refus esto l e t  m e r u n. Hefo r ces m e to watch them  devour hi ms ec onds befor e  th ey  turned  theiratten t ion onme. It'sonly then  t hatI rea lize I was n't tryi ng to fig h t the m  t o get  Ar cher b ac k.I was  tryin g  to  stop  themfr om kil lingme , too.
3 3: Cryptic

(Echo)

Bei ng the  in t hecar witha g h ost  who's in  lov e with me,  my  on -hold  bo y frien d, t h eguy who w ante d  to be my bo yfr i e nd , and an FB I a gen t isall kindsof a wkward. Nobody'st alking, at lea st n o t  ou t l o ud.Wh atever connect ion  A r c her andIforged yest erday af te r  thehypnos is ses sion ha s n 't dimini shed . W hile I'm
 I_can do_this," I cry. I_don't even_know_if I_mean_letting him go,_relying on Malachi,_going to the old_estate, or just_living_each day at a time. None of it seems possible right now. Everything I_thought_I knew_about_him_and about myself has been_obliterated. So many lies, so_much confusion,_it's too much and I can barely even_process_everything, let alone_consider moving forward.

Archer's features solidify even more, still hazy_and vague, but clear enough that_I can see_him_smile._"You've survived everything up_till now. You are strong enough,_Echo. Don't ever doubt that."

"What if_I'm only strong enough with you here?"

He_kisses me one more time, gently,_slowly. "I'll be there for_this last_fight, but it's the strength_you're only beginning_to recognize_that will save_you and the people you love."

"I'm_scared, Archer." I'm_shaking, trembling with fear that his_confidence_is misplaced. "What_if_I_can't save_Malachi?"

Archer's hazy expression_becomes_more serious_as_his grip on me tightens. "You're_not_supposed to save Malachi, Echo. He's supposed_to save you."

"But, you_said..."

He_nods, cutting me off_with what he says next._"You're not meant to save your_Keeper. You're_supposed to_save the rest of the ghosts and the people who help_them."

"Save them from who?" I ask,_so completely floored my_entire body_feels_numb.

A memory flashes_through_my mind_of the oily black being that stole_Archer from_me five years ago. I flinch_away from the memory_but_Archer's physical and spiritual hold refuses_to let me run. He forces_me to watch them devour_him_seconds_before they turned their attention_on me. It's only then that_I realize I_wasn't trying to fight them to get_Archer_back. I was trying to stop_them_from killing me, too.
33: Cryptic

(Echo)

Being the_in_the_car with a ghost who's_in love with me, my on-hold_boyfriend, the guy who wanted to be my boyfriend,_and an FBI_agent is all kinds of_awkward._Nobody's_talking, at least not out loud. Whatever connection Archer and_I forged_yesterday after the_hypnosis session hasn't diminished. While I'm