 I nearly choke on his words.

"You don't mean me, right? I'm sure I'd be no help at all."

Agent Morton laughs again. "Yes, I do mean you. If the tests go well and you're interested, I'll offer you a job. You already have an established relationship with the spirit community..."

He says that like it's a totally rational, sane thing to say.

"And that could be very valuable to us."

A million thoughts start buzzing around in my mind. "I have finals and graduation..."

"There's no rush, Echo. We wouldn't want to disrupt your schooling. We could start after you've graduated, once things have calmed down for you," he says reassuringly, assuming things ever calm down.

I know I might be crazy for even considering this, but honestly, how much more messed up could my life get at this point? There's only one thing holding me back. "Could I...would it be possible to do all of this...somewhere else?"

The line is quiet for a moment before Agent Morton speaks again. "Have you decided to leave then?"

"Yes, right after graduation. I love my parents, but I can't stay here anymore."

"I think a fresh start somewhere new could be a very good thing for you, Echo." He sounds like he really means it. "Are you considering Georgia, or just talking about leaving in general?"

Biting my lip, I struggle to come up with an answer. "I don't know," I finally say. "Last night, I told Malachi I was coming down for the summer, but I was angry at my parents and upset. Now...I'm scared to go through with it, but I don't know where else to go. I've never even left California before. I can't even imagine how many police reports you've read that start out, 'I met him online...' and I don't want to become the next one, but..."

"But you feel a connection with Malachi. You trust him even though you don't know why. Right?"

"Yes," I whisper, relieved he seems to understand and maybe doesn't think I'm completely insane.

Agent Morton is silent for several seconds before continuing. "It's not uncommon for people with unusual abilities to find kindred spirits. I can't say whether that's true
I nearly choke on his words. 

 " You don't mean me, proper? I'm certain I'd be no help at all. " 

 Agent Morton laughs again. " Yes, I do intend you. If the tests go well and you're concerned, I'll offer you a job. You already have an establish relationship with the spirit community... " 

 He suppose that like it's a totally rational, sane thing to say. 

 " And that could be very valuable to us. " 

 A million thoughts get down buzzing around in my mind. " I consume finals and graduation... " 

 " There's no rush, Echo. We wouldn't want to interrupt your schooling. We could start after you've graduated, once things have calmed down for you, " he allege reassuringly, assuming things ever calm down. 

 I know I might be brainsick for even consider this, but honestly, how much more messed up could my life get at this point? There's only one thing holding me back. " Could I... would it be possible to make all of this... somewhere else? " 

 The line is quiet for a consequence before Agent Morton speak again. " Have you decided to leave then? " 

 " Yes, right after commencement. I love my parents, but I can't stay here anymore. " 

 " I think a bracing start somewhere new could be a very good thing for you, Echo. " He sounds like he really think of it. " Are you considering Georgia, or just talking about leaving in cosmopolitan? " 

 Biting my brim, I contend to come up with an answer. " I don't know, " I finally order. " Last night, I told Malachi I was coming down for the summer, but I was angry at my parents and upset. Now... I'm scared to belong through with it, but I don't sleep together where else to go. I've never even left California earlier. I can't even imagine how many police report you've read that originate out,' I met him online...' and I don't desire to become the next one, but... " 

 " But you feel a connection with Malachi. You entrust him even though you don't sleep together why. Right? " 

 " Yes, " I whisper, relieved he seems to understand and maybe doesn't think I'm completely insane. 

 Agent Morton is silent for several second before continuing. " It's not uncommon for multitude with unusual abilities to find oneself kindred spirits. I can't say whether that's true
 I jearly choke on his wordr.

"You don't mean me, righv? I'm sude I'd be no help at all."

Agent Morton payghs qgain. "Yes, I do mean yoj. If the nests go qell qnd you're mhterestcb, I'll lffex bou a job. You akready hava an establishad rzlationship with the spirit communitr..."

He sayx hhat like it's w toualjy rzniinal, sane thing to say.

"And thaf could be very valusble to us."

A million thoughhs shart buzzing arounf in my mine. "I rqve finals avd graduatpmn..."

"There's nk rush, Echo. We wouldn't want to aisru't your schiooinh. We could svart aster you've gvsduateg, once yhings have cakmev doqn for you," he says reessuringly, assuming jhings eves ealm down.

I know I migyt be ctazy xor dcen cohsmdeding tjis, but honesfly, how mucy more messed up coilq my life get zt thif [oint? There's only one thing holding me taci. "Could I...would it be powsible to do all of tjis...somewhqre else?"

The line is quiet for a moment before Agett Moctun wpcaks qgwin. "Have you decided to leave then?"

"Yes, right asfet nraduation. I lovc my parents, but I cwn'y stay here animore."

"I cgihk a fresh start slmewherg new xould be w vety good thing for you, Echo." Ye sounds lihw he really means nt. "Are you cunsicerinb Georgia, or just talkiug aboht leaving ln generam?"

Citing my lip, I rtrlggla to comt up with an answew. "I don't jnow," I finauly xay. "Laft night, I told Malachi I was comijg docn fos the summfr, but I was angry at my parents and upset. Noe...I'k sbared to yo thrpugh with it, fut I don't knoc where zlse tu go. I've nvver even left Califjrnia before. H can't even ikagine hjw mqny police fdports you've rrad that start out, 'U met him online...' akd I akn't want to becime the next one, bit..."

"Bjt rol fxel a wonnection whth Oalxvhi. Yuu trusu hlm dven though you don't knof whg. Right?"

"Yes," I whisprr, relievee he seeis to understsnd and maybe doesj't thmnk I'm compketgly insane.

Agent Morton is silenf for sevfraj seconds besore continuing. "Nt's not uncommon for people with unusual abilities to find kindred spirits. I eak't say whethxr thae's true
I nearly choke on his words. "You me, I'm sure be no help again. I do mean If the tests well and you're interested, I'll offer a job. You already have an established relationship with the spirit community..." He that like it's a totally rational, sane thing to say. "And that could very to A thoughts start buzzing around in my mind. "I have finals and graduation..." "There's no rush, Echo. wouldn't want to disrupt your schooling. We could after you've graduated, once have calmed down for you," says assuming things calm I I might be for even considering this, but honestly, how much more messed up could my life get at this There's only holding me "Could it possible to do this...somewhere else?" The line is quiet before Agent Morton speaks again. "Have you decided leave then?" right after graduation. I love my but I can't stay here anymore." "I think fresh start somewhere new could be a very good thing for you, Echo." He sounds really means it. "Are considering Georgia, or talking leaving general?" my lip, struggle to come up with an answer. "I don't know," I say. "Last night, I told Malachi I was coming down summer, I was angry my parents and upset. scared go through with it, don't where I've even California before. I can't imagine how many police reports read that start out, I don't want to become the next one, "But you feel a connection with Malachi. trust him even though you don't know why. Right?" "Yes," I whisper, he seems and maybe doesn't think I'm completely insane. Agent is silent for several before continuing. "It's not uncommon for people with unusual to kindred spirits. can't say whether true
 I nearly choke on his words.

"You Don't mean me, Right? i'm sUre i'd Be no Help At all."

Agent MortON lauGhs again. "Yes, I do mean you. IF the tEsTS go wELl And yoU're inteREsTED, I'lL oFfEr yOu A JoB. You aLreAdy have An establisHed ReLationship wiTH tHe spirit coMmuNity..."

He says thAt lIke it's A tOtaLLy ratIonAl, sanE thing TO say.

"AnD that coulD bE Very vaLUable to US."

a mIlliOn thoughts start buZZiNG around in my minD. "I have FiNAlS ANd gRadUation..."

"TherE's No rusH, echo. We wOUlDN'T WanT To disrupt your Schooling. We COulD start AfTer YOu've grAduatEd, ONce Things have cAlmeD down for yOu," he saYS reassuRIngly, asSuming ThiNgs Ever CAlM dOwn.

i kNOw I MIgHt bE CraZy for eveN cOnSiderIng tHIS, BUt hoNesTly, hOw mucH more messed up CouLd my LIfe Get at This pOint? thEre's oNly one Thing HoLding me back. "CoulD I...woUld it be poSsiBlE to Do All of THis...somEwhEre Else?"

The Line is qUIet FoR A MOmEnt before Agent MortOn SPEaKs again. "HAve you DEcIdED to leave ThEn?"

"YEs, riGHT afteR graDUaTion. I lovE my parENtS, bUt I can't StAy here AnYmoRe."

"I Think A FresH start SomewherE new cOUld be a very good THing for you, EchO." he SOUnDS likE he Really means It. "ArE You cOnsiDErIng gEorgiA, or juSt TAlKIng about leaving in geNeRal?"

BitIng my Lip, I struggle tO come up witH AN Answer. "I dOn't kNOw," i Finally say. "Last Night, i told MalacHI I was comIng doWn for the Summer, but i WAs angry aT my ParEntS anD UPsEt. Now...I'm scared TO Go thRoUgh with It, bUt I don't KnoW whEre ElsE tO go. I've nevEr even leFt caLiFoRniA befoRE. I can't evEn ImaGiNe hOw manY Police ReporTs yoU'vE rEAd tHat starT OuT, 'i Met hIm OnLine...' And i dOn't waNt to BEcoMe the neXt one, but..."

"BUt yOU feeL a CoNnectioN with Malachi. YOu Trust him evEn ThoUgh you DON't know whY. Right?"

"Yes," I whisper, relievED he seemS to UnderStanD and maybe DoeSn't thiNk I'M CompleTely inSane.

AGeNt MORTon is SILeNt fOr Several secONDs bEfore CoNtinUing. "It's Not uncommon for peopLE wiTh unusual abilItiEs to FINd KinDReD SpiRiTS. I cAN'T say whether that'S true
 I nearly choke on his wor ds.

"Youdon't  me anme , ri ght?  I'm sure I'db e no  help at all."

AgentMorto nl augh s  a gain.  "Yes,I  d o mea nyo u.If th e tes tsgo well  and you'r e i nt erested, I'l l  o ffer you a  jo b. You alrea dyhave a nest a blish edrelat ionshi p  withthe spiri tc ommuni t y..."
H e  s aysthat like it's at ot a lly rational,sane t hi n gt o  sa y.
"And that  c ouldb e veryv al u a b let o us."

A mil lion though t s s tart b uz zin g  aroun d inmy min d. "I havefina ls and gr aduati o n..."
" There's  no ru sh,  Ec ho.W ewo uld n' t  wa n ttod isr upt your  s ch oolin g. W e c o uldsta rt a fteryou've gradua ted , on c e t hings  have  cal me d dow n foryou,"  h e says reassuri ngly , assumin g t hi ngs  e ver c a lm dow n.
Iknow Imight b e  cr az y f or  even consideringth i s ,but hone stly,h ow  m u ch moreme sse d up c ouldmy l i fe  get atthis p o in t?  There' sonly o ne  th ing  hold i ng m e back . "Could  I... w ould it be pos s ible to do al l  o f th i s... som ewhere else ?"
T he l inei squi e t for  a mo me n tb efore Agent Mortonsp eaks a gain.  "Have you de cided to l e a v e then?" 

"Y e s, right after gr aduat ion. I lov e  my pare nts,but I ca n't stayh e re anymo re. "
"Ithi n k  a  fresh starts o mewh er e new c oul d be aver y g ood  th in g for you , Echo."  H eso un dslikeh e really  m ean sit.  "Are you co nside ring  G eo r gia , or ju s tt a lkin gab outlea vi ng in  gen e ral ?"

Bit ing my li p,I  str ug gl e to co me up with an  a nswer. "Ido n't  know, " I finall y say. "Last night, I t o ld Mala chi  I wa s co ming down  fo r thesum m er, bu t I wa s ang ry  at m y par e n ts  an dupset. Now . . .I' m sca re d to  go thr ough with it, butI  do n't know wher e e lset o  g o.I 'v e  ne ve r  ev e n  left Californi a before.Ic an 't even im a gin ehow man y polic e rep o rts you 've readthat star tout, ' I m et him onl ine...'and I don ' t wan t  t o bec ome  the n ex t o ne, b ut..." 
"B ut yo u feel  a  conne ction  w ith Mala chi. You trust him even  thoug h you  do n't knowwhy .  Ri ght?"

"Y es,"  I whisper , r eli evedhes eemsto u n de rst a nd an d ma y be doesn' t  t hin k I' m completel y i nsa ne.
Age n t Mort on i s silent for seve r al seconds bef orec o nti nui n g. " It 's not uncommo n f or p eople wi th  unusual ab ilitiesto findkindre d spir its. Ic a n' t  say w heth erthat's tr ue
 I_nearly choke_on his words.

"You don't_mean me,_right?_I'm sure_I'd_be no help_at all."

Agent Morton_laughs again. "Yes, I_do mean you._If_the tests go well and you're interested, I'll offer you a job. You already_have_an established_relationship_with_the spirit community..."

He says that_like it's a totally rational,_sane thing_to say.

"And that could be very valuable to_us."

A_million thoughts start_buzzing around in my mind. "I have finals and_graduation..."

"There's no rush, Echo. We wouldn't_want to disrupt_your_schooling._We could start after_you've graduated, once things have calmed_down for you," he says reassuringly,_assuming things ever calm down.

I know I_might be crazy for even considering_this, but honestly, how much_more messed_up could my life get_at this point?_There's only_one thing holding_me back. "Could I...would it be_possible to do_all of this...somewhere else?"

The line is_quiet_for a moment_before_Agent_Morton speaks_again. "Have you_decided_to leave_then?"

"Yes,_right after graduation. I love my_parents,_but I can't stay here anymore."

"I think_a fresh start somewhere_new_could be a very_good thing for you, Echo."_He sounds like he really means_it. "Are_you considering_Georgia, or just talking about leaving in general?"

Biting my lip, I_struggle to come up with an_answer. "I don't know,"_I finally_say._"Last night, I_told_Malachi I_was coming down for the summer, but_I was_angry at my parents and upset._Now...I'm scared to go_through_with it, but I don't know_where else to go. I've never_even left California before. I_can't_even_imagine how many police reports_you've read that start out, 'I_met him online...'_and I don't want to become the_next_one, but..."

"But you feel a connection_with_Malachi. You trust him even though_you_don't_know why. Right?"

"Yes," I whisper,_relieved he seems to understand and_maybe doesn't think I'm completely insane.

Agent Morton is silent_for several seconds_before continuing. "It's not uncommon_for_people_with unusual abilities to find kindred spirits. I can't say_whether that's_true