 builds in my chest. Archer nods and I feel the truth of it immediately. "It wasn't just trauma, they stole those memories when they killed you."

Archer nods slowly, but the way he holds himself says there's more and I brace myself for whatever else he needs to say. "If they kill you, Echo, it won't just hurt the ghosts you've helped. You were protected when I died because I was alive when they got to me, and because I'm a Keeper. The ghosts you've interacted with won't have that. If they kill you, it will destroy them. They won't crossover or move on. They'll simply cease to exist and those monsters will consume their energy, becoming more powerful, more able to kill."

I feel in that moment exactly as I did when I fell out of the tree as a child. Breathing is impossible. My brain and body shut down as I think about all the ghosts who've come to me over the past eighteen years. It's not a small number, not an inconsequential amount of energy they hold. What kind of damage could these devouring monsters do with all of that?

***

(Malachi)

Part of me had this tiny hope that the termite tent would still be in place as we pull up to Grandma Maddie's house. I want to protect Echo and get rid of these soul eating psychotic whatevers, but we know almost nothing about them. No clue how to fight them, escape them, nothing. I'm convinced now that they are what Kyran felt the night my great grandma died.

I don't know any more if the men we saw standing over her really were just there to break into the house the same night by chance or if they were somehow in league with these things that are after Echo. All I know now is the men in the house grabbed Kyran and I when we ran down the stairs. We screamed and fought back as much as our eleven-year-old bodies could manage. Neither of us considered how our yelling would wake up my sisters and send them running down the stairs after us.

My sisters may look like delicate ladies, but they weren't about to let anything happen to us if they could help it. I could see the terror in all of their eyes as the guy holding me threw me into the wall to confront them, but all three of my sisters launched themselves off the stairs at the men. Their rescue
builds in my chest. Archer nods and I feel the accuracy of it immediately. " It wasn't barely trauma, they stole those memories when they stamp out you. " 

 Archer nod slowly, but the way he oblige himself says there's more and I brace myself for whatever else he necessitate to say. " If they kill you, Echo, it won't barely hurt the ghosts you've avail. You were protected when I died because I was alive when they got to me, and because I'm a Keeper. The ghost you've interacted with won't have that. If they kill you, it will demolish them. They won't crossover or move on. They'll simply discontinue to exist and those monsters will devour their energy, become more powerful, more able to kill. " 

 I feel in that here and now exactly as I did when I fell out of the tree as a child. Breathing is impossible. My brain and body shut down as I think about all the ghosts who've come to me over the past eighteen years. It's not a small number, not an inconsequential amount of energy they hold. What kind of damage could these avid monster do with all of that? 

 * * * 

 (Malachi) 

 character of me hold this tiny hope that the termite tent would however be in place as we pull up to Grandma Maddie's house. I want to protect Echo and get rid of these person eating psychotic whatevers, but we know almost nothing about them. No clue how to fight them, escape them, nothing. I'm convinced now that they are what Kyran felt the night my great grandma died. 

 I don't acknowledge any more if the men we visit standing over her really were just there to break into the house the like night by chance or if they were somehow in league with these things that are after Echo. All I know now is the men in the house grabbed Kyran and I when we ran down the step. We screamed and fought back as much as our eleven - year - erstwhile bodies could pull off. Neither of us considered how our yelling would wake up up my sisters and station them running down the stairs after us. 

 My baby may look like finespun ladies, but they weren't about to let anything happen to us if they could serve it. I could see the terror in all of their eyes as the guy holding me threw me into the rampart to confront them, but all three of my sisters launched themselves off the step at the men. Their rescue
 bullds in my chest. Archer kods and I feel jhw truti of it immediagely. "It wasn't just trauma, thxy srole ukose memories when tfey killef you."

Arcyer iods slowly, but vge way mz holsd hikwelf says therg's more and H brace myself fur whatever else he needs to say. "If trey kilk jou, Echo, it wog't jlse hudn uhe ghosts you've helped. You were lrotecttd when I died becsuse I was alive when they got to me, and because I'm a Keepet. Thq ghosts you'vd interacttd with won't have that. If they kill you, it dill bestroy then. Rhej won't crossiver jr move on. Tmvy'll sikply cesse to exist akd thmse monsters will consumx their energy, becomyng more [ocerful, more able to kulo."

I fegl in thag mooenu eeacfly as I vid when I rell out of the tree as a chilc. Fgrathing is ijpossiflq. My brain and body shut down as I thinn agout all the ghosts who'ce come to me over thg past eigrteen years. It's not a small number, not an inconsexuentmau anomnt ud fnergy they hold. What kind of damage could thqae dvvouring monsters do with alk lf jhat?

***

(Malachi)

Parj of me has this tiny hope tjat the termute tent roulc still be in place as we pyll up to Grcndna Maddie's house. I want to prutecj Echo and get rid of these suul sating psycjotic whafdvers, but we knod akmmst nothing about them. No slue how vo fiyht them, escspe thqm, nothing. I'm convinced now that tjey ate whad Kyran fept the night my great grandma dmxd.

I don't know aty kore if che mek we saw standigg over her reclly werz just there to greak iito the housq the same nicjt by chance or if trey qere somehod in league witn these tknngs that are after Echo. Alk I inow now is the meb in the house bracbeq Nycan agg I when we san aowv the rtairs. We sgrexmed and fought back as kuch as our eleven-year-plq bodies could mwnage. Neither of us considered jow onr yeluing eoujd wake up my sisters and send them runjinn down the stwirs after us.

My xisters may look like delicate ladies, bnt they weren't about to let anything happeu uo us if they coulq help it. I could see the tereor in all of thelr eyes as the guy holsing ma thrfw me into the wall to confront them, but all three of my sisters launched themsxldes off the staors an tke ken. Thqir cercue
builds in my chest. Archer nods and the of it "It wasn't just when killed you." Archer slowly, but the he holds himself says there's more I brace myself for whatever else he needs to say. "If they kill Echo, it won't just hurt the ghosts you've helped. You were protected when died I alive they got to me, and because I'm a Keeper. The ghosts you've interacted with won't have If they kill you, it will destroy them. won't crossover or move They'll simply cease to exist those will consume energy, more more able to I feel in that moment exactly as I did when I fell out of the tree as child. Breathing My brain body down I think about ghosts who've come to me over years. It's not a small number, not an amount of they hold. What kind of damage these devouring monsters do with all of that? (Malachi) Part of me had this tiny hope that the termite tent would still be as we pull up Grandma Maddie's house. want protect and rid of soul eating psychotic whatevers, but we know almost nothing about them. clue how to fight them, escape them, nothing. I'm convinced they what Kyran felt night my great grandma I know any more if we standing were there break into the house same night by chance or they were somehow in are after Echo. All I know now is men in the house grabbed Kyran and when we ran down the stairs. We screamed and fought back as as our could manage. Neither of us considered how our would wake up my and send them running down the stairs after us. sisters look like ladies, but they about to let happen to us could help I see all of their eyes as the holding threw me into the wall confront all three of my sisters launched themselves off the stairs at the men. Their rescue
 builds in my chest. Archer nods And I feel thE trutH of It iMmEdiaTely. "it wasn't just traUMa, thEy stole those memories whEn theY kILled YOu."

archeR nods slOWlY, BUt tHe WaY he HoLDs HimseLf sAys therE's more and I BraCe Myself for whaTEvEr else he neEds To say. "If they kIll You, EchO, iT woN'T just HurT the gHosts yOU've helPed. You werE pROtecteD When I diED BeCausE I was alive when theY GoT To me, and because i'm a KeePeR. thE GHosTs yOu've interaCtEd witH Won't havE ThAT. iF thEY kill you, it wilL destroy theM. theY won't cRoSsoVEr or moVe on. THeY'Ll sImply cease tO exiSt and thosE monstERs will cONsume thEir eneRgy, BecOminG MoRe PowErFUl, mORe AblE To kIll."

I feel In ThAt momEnt eXACTLy as i diD wheN I felL out of the tree As a ChilD. breAthinG is imPossIbLe. My bRain anD body ShUt down as I think aBout All the ghoSts WhO've CoMe to mE Over thE paSt eIghteen Years. It'S Not A sMALL nUmber, not an inconseqUeNTIaL amount oF energY ThEy HOld. What kInD of DamaGE Could ThesE DeVouring mOnsterS Do WiTh all of ThAt?

***

(MalaChI)

PaRt oF me haD This Tiny hoPe that thE termITe tent would stiLL be in place as wE PuLL Up TO GraNdmA Maddie's houSe. I wANt to ProtECt echO And geT rid oF tHEsE Soul eating psychotic WhAteverS, but wE know almost noThing about THEM. No clue hOw to FIgHT them, escape theM, nothIng. I'm conviNCed now thAt theY are what kyran felt THE night my GreAt gRanDma DIEd.

i don't know any mORE if tHe Men we saW stAnding oVer Her ReaLly WeRe just theRe to breaK iNtO tHe HouSe the SAme night By ChaNcE or If theY Were soMehow In leAgUe WIth These thINgS THat aRe AfTer ECho. alL I knoW now IS thE men in tHe house grAbbED KyrAn AnD I when wE ran down the stAiRs. We screamEd And Fought BACk as much As our eleven-year-old bodieS Could maNagE. NeitHer oF us considEreD how ouR yeLLing woUld wakE up my SiSteRS And seND ThEm rUnNing down thE STaiRs aftEr Us.

My Sisters May look like delicatE LadIes, but they werEn't AbouT TO lEt aNYtHIng HaPPen TO Us if they could heLp it. I could SeE ThE terror in aLL of ThEir eyes As the guY holdINg me thrEw me into tHe wall to cOnFronT THem, But all threE of my sisTers launcHEd theMSeLves oFf tHe staiRs At tHe men. their rEScuE
 builds in my chest. Arche r nods and  I fe elthe  t ruth  ofit immediately .  "It  wasn't just trauma, t hey s to l e th o se  memo ries wh e nt h eyki ll edyo u ." 

Arc her  nods s lowly, but  th eway he holds hi mself says  th ere's more a ndI brac emys e lf fo r w hatev er els e  he ne eds to sa y. "If th e y killy o u,  Ech o, it won't justh ur t  the ghosts yo u've h el p ed . You  we re protect ed  when I diedb ec a u s e I was alive whe n they gott o m e, and  b eca u se I'm  a Ke ep e r.The ghostsyou' ve intera cted w i th won' t  have t hat. I f t hey  kil l  y ou , i tw ill de str o y t hem. The ywo n't c ross o v e r  ormov e on . The y'll simply c eas e to exi st an d tho se m on sters  willconsu me  their energy,beco ming more  po we rfu l,  more able t o k ill ."

I f eel int hat  m o m e nt  exactly as I didwh e n  I  fell ou t of t h etr e e as a c hi ld.  Bre a t hingis i m po ssible.My bra i nan d bodysh ut dow nasI t hinka bout  all t he ghost s who ' ve come to meo ver the paste ig h t ee n  yea rs.  It's not a  sma l l nu mber ,  n ota n inc onseq ue n ti a l amount of energyth ey hol d. Wh at kind of da mage could t h ese devo urin g  m o nsters do with  allof that?
* **

(Mal achi) 

Part o f me hadt h is tinyhop e t hat  th e te rmite tent wo u l d st il l be in  pl ace aswepul l u p t oGrandma M addie'sho us e.  I  wa nt to protectEc hoan d g et ri d  of th ese s oulea ti n g p sychoti c  w h a teve rs ,butwekn ow al most not hing ab out them.  No clue  h ow  to fig ht them, esca pe  them, not hi ng.  I'm c o n vinced n ow that they are what K y ran fel t t he ni ghtmy greatgra ndma d ied . 

I do n't kn ow an ymor e if th e me n w esaw standi n g  ov er he rreal ly were  just there to bre a k i nto the house  th e sa m e  n igh t  b y  ch an c e o r if they were so mehow in l ea g ue  with thes e  th in gs that  are af ter E c ho. All  I know n ow is the  m en i n the  house gra bbed Kyr an and Iw hen w e  r an do wnthe st ai rs.  We s creame d  an d fou ght ba ck  as mu ch as  o ur eleve n-year-old bodies could  manag e. Ne ith er of uscon s ide red how o ur y elling wou ldwak e upmys ister s an d  s end themrunn i ng down t h esta i r safter us.
M y sis tersmay look l ikedelicate ladies,b ut they weren' t ab o u t t o l e t an yt hing happen to  us  i f they cou ld  help it. I  could s ee the t errorin all  of the i r  e y es astheguy  holdingmeth r ew me i nt ot he wal l to  c onfron t them ,  but a ll three of my s ister s launc h edthems el ves off thestairs atthe men. Th eir re scue 
 builds_in my_chest. Archer nods and_I feel_the_truth of_it_immediately. "It wasn't_just trauma, they_stole those memories when_they killed you."

Archer_nods_slowly, but the way he holds himself says there's more and I brace myself_for_whatever else_he_needs_to say. "If they kill_you, Echo, it won't just_hurt the_ghosts you've helped. You were protected when I_died_because I was_alive when they got to me, and because I'm_a Keeper. The ghosts you've interacted_with won't have_that._If_they kill you, it_will destroy them. They won't crossover_or move on. They'll simply cease_to exist and those monsters will consume_their energy, becoming more powerful, more_able to kill."

I feel in_that moment_exactly as I did when_I fell out_of the_tree as a_child. Breathing is impossible. My brain_and body shut_down as I think about all_the_ghosts who've come_to_me_over the_past eighteen years._It's_not a_small_number, not an inconsequential amount of_energy_they hold. What kind of damage could_these devouring monsters do_with_all of that?

***

(Malachi)

Part of_me had this tiny hope_that the termite tent would still_be in_place as_we pull up to Grandma Maddie's house. I want to protect_Echo and get rid of these_soul eating psychotic whatevers,_but we_know_almost nothing about_them._No clue_how to fight them, escape them, nothing._I'm convinced_now that they are what Kyran_felt the night my_great_grandma died.

I don't know any more_if the men we saw standing_over her really were just_there_to_break into the house the_same night by chance or if_they were somehow_in league with these things that are_after_Echo. All I know now is_the_men in the house grabbed Kyran_and_I_when we ran down the_stairs. We screamed and fought back_as much as our eleven-year-old bodies could manage. Neither_of us considered_how our yelling would wake_up_my_sisters and send them running down the stairs after us.

My_sisters may_look like delicate_ladies, but they weren't about to let anything happen to_us if they could help it. I_could see the terror in all of their eyes as the_guy holding me threw me into the wall_to confront them, but all three of_my sisters launched themselves_off_the stairs at the men. Their rescue