Fear

Bret sips on his soda as Lockheart leaves, tapping his fingers as little nervously on the table. He’d been able to forget his problems for most of the weekend with enough distractions, but reality was coming back. He was in trouble…big trouble, and needed this help.

Brandon was still alive…that was a good thing, not only for his friends, but for Bret right now too. He was still in a coma…but if he died, the charges would be much more severe.

Looking up and spotting Charlotte, his eyebrows rise in pleasant surprise, and he returns her hug. “Hey, you….” He chuckles. “Yeah, fate’s been having a good time, hasn’t he?”

He cocks his head. “And what are you doing at this end of town looking so sharp?”


Jason isn’t totally surprised by Katie’s reaction, though he gives a slight start as he witnesses the severity of it. Blinking, he looks at her as she catches herself from saying more.

For several moments, he just stands. A slow fear seeps into his veins. He knew she’d felt him before…that was the only way she’d known to find him or come to his rescue so many times before. But…Jason had always thought it was just her sixth sense for danger. He knew she liked to draw out his emotions to help him too, and that she could sense his good feelings if he purposely gave them up to her . But…right now, he’d been in no danger at all...had shared nothing on purpose. Sure, he’d cut his thumb, but if whatever it was that had made Katie sense danger before was what he thought, then she shouldn’t have reacted right now like she had.

Jason swallows hard and steps inside Katie’s cubicle, nearing her. Drawing his hand from his pocket proves what he’d just done, his thumb producing a small stream of blood. He looks at his hand, then back to Katie. Reaching out with his other hand, he tilts her chin so she’s looking at him. His pulse quickens as his fear intensifies.

“Katie…” His voice is almost a whisper. “How much…” He pauses, realizing the implications of what he was asking. It was impossible…but he had to know. “How much do you feel?”