 me being recruited to work undercover during the war. I wasn't alone.

Whoa! What? Grandma Maddie protected someone like Echo during the war? Is that really a thing? Now there's some kind of serial killer ghost or whatever that's going around taking out people who try to help mediums like Echo? That concept is enough to put me over the edge, but I glance back at the paper hoping for more answers.

"Madeline, can you tell me anything about what happened to Archer?"

Only that it will happen again if you're not careful.

It takes me a moment to realize that's the end. Just to be sure, I flip the paper over, hoping to find more. Nothing. Flipping it back, I let it fall to the tabletop. The second it settles, I zero in on Echo. "These ghost things killing people, do you have any idea what they are or how we keep them away from you?"

Echo shakes her head slowly. "I've never heard of anything like that. I tried asking Holden, but he didn't know either. He said he'd research it and let me know."

Falling back against the booth, I drag my hands down my face slowly. A million different thoughts race through my mind. Catching and holding one feels like trying to catch pollywogs in the creek. On the surface, it seems like only the barest of information, but the longer I roll around each detail, the more connections I make.

"Echo," I ask slowly, "I know you don't remember much about meeting Archer, but...from what your mom said, it seemed like you two hit it off real fast...just like..."

"Just like we did?" Echo whispers.

My stomach sinks as I realize she's seen the possible connection as well. "Could it be possible that Archer was...whatever I am?"

Echo only shrugs and pulls her arms around her body more tightly.

"Is that why they killed him?" I ask.

The bob of Echo's head is so slight I almost miss it. What she says next...I can't not hear it, no matter how much I want to. She blows out a shaky breath before saying, "I think that's why they killed your great grandma, too."
32: The Choice to Stay

(Echo)

They
me being recruited to work undercover during the war. I wasn't alone. 

 Whoa! What? Grandma Maddie protected someone like Echo during the war? Is that in truth a matter? Now there's some kind of serial cause of death touch or whatever that's going around taking out multitude who hear to help medium like Echo? That concept is enough to put me over the boundary, but I glance back at the paper hoping for more answers. 

 " Madeline, can you tell me anything about what happen to Archer? " 

 Only that it will find again if you're not careful. 

 It takes me a here and now to recognize that's the end. Just to be sure, I interchange the paper over, hoping to find more. Nothing. flip it back, I let it fall to the tabletop. The second it settles, I zero in on Echo. " These ghost things kill people, do you have any idea what they are or how we keep them away from you? " 

 Echo shakes her head slowly. " I've never heard of anything like that. I tried asking Holden, but he didn't know either. He said he'd research it and let me know. " 

 Falling back against the booth, I drag my hand down my face slowly. A million unlike thought rush through my mind. Catching and holding one feels like trying to catch pollywogs in the creek. On the open, it seems like only the barest of information, but the longer I roll around each detail, the more connection I make. 

 " Echo, " I ask slowly, " I know you don't remember much about touch Archer, but... from what your mom said, it seemed like you two hit it off real fast... barely like... " 

 " Just like we did? " Echo whispers. 

 My abdomen sinks as I understand she's seen the possible joining as well. " Could it be potential that Archer was... whatever I am? " 

 Echo only shrugs and pulls her arms around her body more tightly. 

 " Is that why they kill him? " I ask. 

 The british shilling of Echo's head is indeed slight I almost miss it. What she says next... I can't not hear it, no matter how a lot I want to. She blows out a shaky hint before saying, " I think that's why they killed your great grandma, besides. " 
 32: The Choice to bide 

 (Echo) 

 They
 me being recruited to work undercover durnbg the war. I wasn't auone.

Whoa! What? Grandma Maddie peotecuvd someone like Echo auring thv war? Is rhat eeally a tijng? Now there'a somz jind of serial killer ghmst or whateves ghct's going around taking out people wro try yo help mediums jike Qcho? Nhct concept is enough to put me kver tht edge, but I glancr back at the paper hoping for more answers.

"Madellne, can you telj me anything about whau kappened to Archer?"

Only that it will happen agaiu if you're bor cwteful.

It takew me w moment to vvalize dhat's tne end. Just to be suee, I flip the paper oter, hoping to find mjre. Nothitg. Flipping it back, I let ht fdll gi tfe uabkefop. Thf sxcond it seftles, I zeri in on Echo. "These bhjwt things kilming pqo[le, do you have any idea what they are mr gow we keep them away feom you?"

Echo shakes het head slorly. "I've never heard of anything like that. I tried askiig Hoodcn, bjr je didn't know either. He said he'd research it whd lvt me know."

Falling back againxt tng booth, I drag my hauss down my face slowpy. A mijlion differenu thoights race through my mind. Xatching and yolding one feels pike trying to vatch pollywogs in the creek. On fhe surface, it seems uike only the bafesn of informaukon, but the longew I roll erounb each ddtaik, the iore conneftions I make.

"Echo," I ask dlowli, "I knmw you don'h remember much about meeting Acrher, but...from ehdt jour mom faid, lt seemed like rou two hit it off recl fasg...just like..."

"Nust line we did?" Esho whispers.

Mf stomach sinns as I wealuze whe's sedv the possible connection as well. "Could it be possinle tfzt Archer was...whcuevtr I am?"

Echo only shfugf wnv puljv her arms asouna hdt bodh more unghbly.

"Ks tnat why they killed vim?" J ask.

The bob of Ecno'f head iw so slidht I almost kiss it. What she swys nxxt...I cen't noy hgar it, no matter how much I wanf to. She hlors out a shahy bveatr before scying, "I think that's why they killed your great grandma, too."
32: The Choice to Stay

(Gchp)

They
me being recruited to work undercover during I alone. Whoa! Grandma Maddie protected war? that really a Now there's some of serial killer ghost or whatever going around taking out people who try to help mediums like Echo? That is enough to put me over the edge, but I glance back at paper for answers. can you tell me anything about what happened to Archer?" Only that it will happen again you're not careful. It takes me a moment realize that's the end. to be sure, I flip paper hoping to more. Flipping back, I let fall to the tabletop. The second it settles, I zero in on Echo. "These ghost things killing do you idea what are how keep them away Echo shakes her head slowly. "I've anything like that. I tried asking Holden, but didn't know He said he'd research it and me know." Falling back against the booth, I my hands down my face slowly. A million different thoughts race through my mind. Catching one feels like trying catch pollywogs in creek. the it like only barest of information, but the longer I roll around each detail, more connections I make. "Echo," I ask slowly, "I know remember about meeting Archer, what your mom said, seemed you two hit it fast...just "Just Echo My sinks as I realize seen the possible connection as "Could it be possible Echo only shrugs and pulls her arms around body more tightly. "Is that why they him?" I ask. The bob of Echo's head is so slight I miss it. says next...I can't not hear it, no matter much I want to. blows out a shaky breath before saying, "I think why killed your grandma, too." 32: Choice to Stay They
 me being recruited to work undErcover durIng thE waR. I wAsN't alOne.

WHoa! What? Grandma mAddiE protected someone like ECho duRiNG the WAr? is thaT really A ThING? NoW tHeRe's SoME kInd of SerIal killEr ghost or wHatEvEr that's going ARoUnd taking oUt pEople who try tO heLp mediUmS liKE Echo? thaT concEpt is eNOugh to Put me over ThE Edge, buT i glance BACk At thE paper hoping for moRE aNSwers.

"Madeline, cAn you tElL Me ANYthIng About what hApPened TO Archer?"

oNlY THAt iT Will happen agaIn if you're noT CarEful.

It TaKes ME a momeNt to rEaLIze That's the end. just To be sure, I Flip thE Paper ovER, hoping To find MorE. NoThinG. flIpPinG iT BacK, i lEt iT FalL to the taBlEtOp. The SecoND IT SettLes, i zerO in on echo. "These ghosT thIngs KIllIng peOple, dO you HaVe any Idea whAt theY aRe or how we keep thEm awAy from you?"

echO sHakEs Her heAD slowlY. "I'vE neVer hearD of anytHIng LiKE THaT. I tried asking HoldeN, bUT He Didn't knoW eitheR. he SaID he'd reseArCh iT and LET me knOw."

FaLLiNg back agAinst tHE bOoTh, I drag My Hands dOwN my FacE slowLY. A miLlion dIfferent ThougHTs race through mY Mind. Catching aND hOLDiNG one FeeLs like tryinG to cATch pOllyWOgS in THe creEk. On tHe SUrFAce, it seems like only tHe Barest Of infOrmation, but thE longer I roLL ARound eacH detAIl, THe more connectiOns I mAke.

"Echo," I asK Slowly, "I kNow yoU don't remEmber much ABOut meetiNg ARchEr, bUt...fROM wHat your mom saiD, IT seeMeD like yoU twO hit it oFf rEal FasT...juSt Like..."

"Just lIke we did?" ecHo WhIsPerS.

My stOMach sinkS aS I rEaLizE she's SEen the PossiBle cOnNeCTioN as well. "cOuLD It be PoSsIble ThaT ARcher Was...wHAteVer I am?"

ECho only shRugS And pUlLs Her arms Around her body MoRe tightly.

"IS tHat Why theY KIlled him?" i ask.

The bob of Echo's head is SO slight i alMost mIss iT. What she sAys Next...I cAn't NOt hear It, no maTter hOw MucH i Want tO. sHe BloWs Out a shaky bREAth BeforE sAyinG, "I think That's why they killed YOur Great grandma, tOo."
32: THe ChOICe To STAy

(eCho)

thEY
 me being recruited to wor k undercov er du rin g t he  war . Iwasn't alone.Whoa ! What? Grandma Maddie  prot ec t ed s o me one l ike Ech o  d u r ing  t he  wa r? Is  that  re ally athing? Now  th er e's some kin d  o f serial k ill er ghost orwha teverth at' s  goin g a round  takin g  out p eople who  t r y to h e lp medi u m slike  Echo? That conce p ti s enough to pu t me o ve r  t h e  ed ge,  but I gla nc e bac k  at the pa p e r  ho p ing for moreanswers.

" M ade line,ca n y o u tell  me a ny t hin g about wha t ha ppened to  Arche r ?"

Onl y  that i t will  ha ppe n ag a in  i f y ou ' ren ot  ca r efu l.

It t ak es  me a  mom e n t to r eal izethat' s the end. Ju stto b e  su re, I  flip  the  p aperover,hopin gto find more. N othi ng. Flipp ing  i t b ac k, Il et itfal l t o the t abletop .  Th es e c on d it settles, I ze ro i non Echo.  "Thes e  g ho s t things  k ill ingp e ople,  doy ou  have an y idea wh at  they a re  or ho wwekee p the m  awa y from  you?"
Echos hakes her head slowly. "I've ne v e rh eard  of  anything l iket hat.  I t r ie d a s kingHolde n, bu t  he didn't know eit he r. Hesaidhe'd research  it and le t m e know." 

Fa l li n g back against  thebooth, I d r ag my ha nds d own my f ace slowl y .  A milli ondif fer ent t ho ughts race th r o ughmy  mind.Cat ching a ndhol din g o ne  feels li ke tryin gto  c at chpolly w ogs in t he  cr ee k.On th e  surfa ce, i t se em sl ike  only t h eb a rest  o finfo rma ti on, b ut t h e l onger I  roll aro und each  d et ail, th e more connec ti ons I make .
"E cho,"I ask slow ly, "I know you don't r e membermuc h abo ut m eeting Ar che r, but ... f rom wh at you r mom  s aid , it se e m ed  li ke  you two h i t  it  offre al f ast...j ust like..."

"Jus t  li ke we did?" E cho  whi s p er s.My sto ma c h s i n ks as I realize  she's see nt he  possiblec onn ec tion as  well."Coul d  it bepossiblethat Arch er  was . . .wh atever I a m?"

Ech o only sh r ugs a n dpulls  he r arms  a rou nd he r body mor e tig htly.
" Is tha t why  t hey kill ed him?" I ask.

The bo b of E cho's  he ad is sosli g htI almostmiss  it. Whatshe  sa ys ne xt. . .I ca n'tn ot  he a r it,  nom atter how mu chI wa nt to. Sheb l o wsout a  sh a ky bre athbefore saying, "I think that's w hy t h e y k ill e d yo ur  great grandma , t oo . " 
32: The  C hoice to St ay

(Ech o) 
They 
 me_being recruited_to work undercover during_the war._I_wasn't alone.

Whoa!_What?_Grandma Maddie protected_someone like Echo_during the war? Is_that really a_thing?_Now there's some kind of serial killer ghost or whatever that's going around taking_out_people who_try_to_help mediums like Echo? That_concept is enough to put_me over_the edge, but I glance back at the_paper_hoping for more_answers.

"Madeline, can you tell me anything about what happened_to Archer?"

Only that it will happen_again if you're_not_careful.

It_takes me a moment_to realize that's the end. Just_to be sure, I flip the_paper over, hoping to find more. Nothing._Flipping it back, I let it_fall to the tabletop. The_second it_settles, I zero in on_Echo. "These ghost_things killing_people, do you_have any idea what they are_or how we_keep them away from you?"

Echo shakes_her_head slowly. "I've_never_heard_of anything_like that. I_tried_asking Holden,_but_he didn't know either. He said_he'd_research it and let me know."

Falling back_against the booth, I_drag_my hands down my_face slowly. A million different_thoughts race through my mind. Catching_and holding_one feels_like trying to catch pollywogs in the creek. On the surface,_it seems like only the barest_of information, but the_longer I_roll_around each detail,_the_more connections_I make.

"Echo," I ask slowly, "I know_you don't_remember much about meeting Archer, but...from_what your mom said,_it_seemed like you two hit it_off real fast...just like..."

"Just like we_did?" Echo whispers.

My stomach sinks_as_I_realize she's seen the possible_connection as well. "Could it be_possible that Archer_was...whatever I am?"

Echo only shrugs and pulls_her_arms around her body more tightly.

"Is_that_why they killed him?" I ask.

The_bob_of_Echo's head is so slight_I almost miss it. What she_says next...I can't not hear it, no matter how_much I want_to. She blows out a_shaky_breath_before saying, "I think that's why they killed your great_grandma, too."
32:_The Choice to_Stay

(Echo)

They