HOLDING HIS SIDE, Ramsey felt the pressure on his lungs disappear. Feeling his strength return, he inhaled deeply, ignoring the pain of what he suspected were two or three cracked ribs. He looked up to see Sarah kneeling over a fallen Yates and speaking into his ear. Grabbing at the counter, he pulled himself upright with a groan. The heavy air in the room suddenly lightened, and he swayed but caught himself. Ramsey watched Sarah put her finger to Yates’s neck, and he realized Yates was dead. When Sarah slowly stood on shaky legs, relief flooded through him. They stared at each other for an imperceptible second before they both stepped forward and wrapped around each other, her face buried into his neck. He smelled her hair and felt her ear against his cheek, and the pain in his ribs barely registered. The energy they shared flooded back, swirling and settling, as if finding its home again.
“Oh God…Sarah…” he said, turning his face into her hair. “You okay?”
She squeezed him. His ribs protested, but he didn’t let go. He felt her nod against his neck.
“You?” she whispered.
“Nothing a few days of rest can’t heal,” he answered, but he couldn’t prevent a groan when she pressed against him and his ribs flared.
She pulled back, feeling his discomfort. “You’re hurt.”
“Just my ribs. I’m fine.” He gave her a look of reassurance before he looked for Leroy, who’d managed to sit up, but was still holding his head in his hands, and Declan, who lay curled in a ball on the floor. “They need more help than I do.”
Before he could go to check on them, Sarah placed her hand on his chest and held it there. He started to protest, telling her not to worry, when the pain vanished and he stood in doubt, wondering if his mind was playing tricks on him.
“Better?” she asked, and he realized she had healed his fractured ribs with the touch of her hand.
“Yes.” He didn’t know what else to say, because she turned then and dropped next to Leroy.
“Leroy?” she asked, reaching for his hands. “How are you?”
Looking sweaty and uncomfortable, Leroy popped his head up. “Better than before,” he said. “But I’ve got one hell of a hangover.” He rubbed at his temples and winced.
“Sit back,” she said. Leroy lay back against the wall. She raised her hand, placing it on the top of his head, and brought the other to the back of his neck. “Relax,” she said.
Leroy took a breath, and then his eyes popped open wide and his shoulders came down.
“How’s that?” she asked.
“Better than aspirin,” he said. “Much better. Thanks.” He massaged his neck.
Sarah turned and went to Declan’s side next. Ramsey crouched next to her. “Declan?” she asked.
Declan shifted and moaned but did little else. His eyes were half slits, and he was breathing carefully.
“Declan,” said Sarah, leaning close. “I’m going to put my hands on your stomach. Lie still.” She addressed Ramsey. “Help me lay him back.”
Ramsey took Declan’s shoulders and pushed him back. Declan moaned again and tried to curl up, but Ramsey held the pressure to keep him back. “Take it easy,” said Ramsey. “You’ll be fine in a second.”
Sarah shifted and put both hands on Declan’s stomach while Ramsey held him still. She quieted herself, took a breath, and closed her eyes.
Ramsey and Leroy watched as she sat silently, her hands on Declan, for several seconds. She grimaced for a moment. “He’s a mess,” she said, her eyes still closed. “His insides are twisted.” She took another calming breath. “This will take a few minutes.”
Ramsey and Leroy shared a look. “Take all the time you need,” said Leroy.
Sarah continued to work on Declan. After a couple of minutes, Declan stirred and his eyes became more alert. He winced, but began to focus.
“Stay still,” said Sarah, eyes closed. “I’m almost done.”
Declan seemed to hear what she said. He didn’t move. Ramsey felt his brother’s body relax. He began to breathe easier, and his arm unwound from his torso.
Sarah opened her eyes and sat back.
Declan took his first painless breath since that afternoon, and he started to sit up.
“Go slow, Declan,” said Ramsey.
“Hannah,” said Declan, his voice finding strength. “We have to find Hannah.” He raised himself into a crouch and stayed there, waiting for his head to clear. Lines of fatigue and worry etched his face, and he looked pale. He stared at Sarah with quiet determination. “Where could she be?”
“She’s got to be somewhere in the house,” said Leroy. “We’ll find her.”
Sarah’s gaze traveled through the room and stopped at the door leading to the small bedroom.
Declan noticed where she was looking. He stood in a heartbeat. “Hannah?” he asked. He grabbed at the door and turned the knob. The door swung inward, and he stopped when he saw the single twin bed and Hannah’s still form lying on it. “No,” he said, rushing to the bedside.
Ramsey, Sarah, and Leroy followed.
Hannah made no reaction to his presence. He sat beside her, but her half-open eyes did not flicker. He took her hand, but she did not grip his fingers.
“Hannah?” he asked, stroking her face. “Can you hear me? It’s Declan.” Her face remained unchanged. “Hannah, please.” The fear in Declan’s voice was audible.
“Let me look at her, Declan,” said Sarah, putting a hand on his shoulder and attempting to calm him.
Declan tried again. “Hannah…”
Ramsey and Leroy stepped forward. “Declan, let Sarah help,” said Leroy.
“Step back, Declan,” said Ramsey, taking his arm.
The words seemed to penetrate his consciousness. Declan pushed off the bed, letting Leroy and Ramsey guide him. “Please help her.”
Sarah sat on the edge of the bed. She placed one hand on Hannah’s head and the other over her heart, feeling and listening. She understood Declan’s fear. Hannah’s energy was frail, and she knew she’d have to work fast if she hoped to save her friend.
Several minutes passed as Sarah worked with no sign of improvement.
“Sarah,” said Declan. “What’s wrong? Why isn’t she coming back?” He moved forward, but Ramsey and Leroy stopped him.
“Let her finish,” said Ramsey. “Give her time.”
“Just wait,” said Leroy.
Sarah shook her head, and Declan stepped closer. “What is it?” he asked.
“I can feel it,” said Sarah.
“What?”
“What he gave her. It’s worked its way into her system, but there’s still time.”
“Time? How much time?” asked Declan.
Sarah didn’t answer him. She looked at Ramsey. “I need you on the other side of her.” Ramsey let go of Declan and moved toward the bed. Sarah addressed Leroy. “You keep him back.”
“What?” said Declan. “Why? Let me help.” He tried to approach, but Leroy stopped him.
“You can’t,” said Sarah. “Your energy is too erratic right now. I need someone to help me balance her. You can’t do that. The best thing for you to do is to stand back and wait.”
Ramsey crouched on the other side of the bed, and Declan shut his mouth in frustrated silence.
“What do you need me to do?” asked Ramsey.
“Keep your hands on her head and heart. I need you to keep her steady while I pull the poison out of her.” Sarah rubbed her hands together and took a breath. “You okay with this?” she asked.
“I’m cool as a penguin. Let’s do this.”
Sarah shifted her position and kneeled on the side of the bed. Ramsey placed his hands on Hannah while Sarah put a hand on her sternum and another on her belly. Dropping her head, Sarah closed her eyes. Ramsey focused in on Hannah’s energy, but he found there was little to grab onto, so he made sure the little energy he did feel stayed even. No more on one side than another.
They stayed like that for several minutes. As time passed, Declan’s taut energy made him pace the room, waiting for any indication of Hannah’s return.
Several more minutes passed. Gradually, Ramsey began to feel a buildup of energy beneath his hands. He worked to keep it balanced as it continued to grow.
Sarah took several deep breaths. When her head came up, she held a worried look. “It’s too fine. I can’t gather it in one place.”
“What?” asked Ramsey.
Declan shot forward. “What is it?” he asked. “What’s wrong?”
“Whatever he gave her,” said Sarah. “I can’t pull it out of her like I did John.” She stopped as she thought.
“We have to do something,” said Declan. “There has to be a way.”
Sarah spoke to Ramsey. “I’m going to guide it into her lungs.”
“What? No,” said Declan. “You’ll kill her.”
Sarah didn’t acknowledge him. “We don’t have much time. When you feel the movement, focus it toward her chest.”
“No, don’t,” said Declan. He tried to move forward, but Leroy held him back.
Sarah spoke. “You have to trust me, Declan.”
He stopped at her words, and she turned away and began to work again on Hannah. Declan forced himself to stand still and wait.
Several more minutes passed, and Ramsey began to feel shifting currents of movement beneath his hands. He pulled inward, directing the energy toward Hannah’s lungs. Hannah began to show signs of activity. She blinked, and he heard her make a small noise in the back of her throat. Her hands began to open and close, and she coughed.
Sarah moved her hands away and sat back. “Sit her up,” she said. “Declan, get behind her. Hold her up.”
Declan was there in a second to support her from behind as Ramsey helped lift Hannah into a sitting position. Hannah coughed again, and a spray of red particles spewed into the air and floated down.
“Turn your heads,” said Sarah. “Don’t breathe this stuff.” She moved sideways to Hannah to avoid the red mist.
Hannah continued to cough, releasing red puffs of powder into the air. She fought to suck in oxygen as her lungs forced the toxin out.
“That’s it, Hannah,” said Sarah. “Keep coughing.”
Hannah’s alertness improved the more she coughed. Her eyes opened, and she grabbed at Declan’s hands, which were encircling her.
“Keep going. Cough it out. That’s it,” he said, holding her.
Her body shook with the effort to remove the debris from her airway. She began to tire.
But Sarah wouldn’t let her stop. She held her hand against Hannah’s back, feeling for the remnants of the toxin.
“You have to keep coughing,” said Declan. “I know you’re tired, but we have to get it out of you.”
Hannah clutched at his hands and trembled, but continued to expel the poison. As the coughing and amount of red mist began to subside, she blinked several times. She took a deep breath and exhaled through another deep cough. The amount of red she released was minimal.
Sarah dropped her hand from Hannah’s back and nodded at Ramsey, who nodded in return.
Hannah groaned, but the light was back in her eyes. “Declan,” she said.
“I’m right here,” he said, coming around to sit in front of her. “I’m here.” He took her hands in his.
“Where am I?” she asked, her eyes weary but aware.
“You’re safe,” said Declan, his hand finding her cheek. He looked at Sarah in gratitude, and she smiled back.
Hannah reached for him, and he took her in his arms. “We’re safe,” he said. “We’re all safe.”