His body shook from the charge, but it only helped to tighten his grip and his resolve. He cut deeper than normal for this was a deeper hurt than normal. The blood trickled slowly down his chest.

Kira blinked away the tears and looked at Cole, his smile was sympathetic, and sincere. She was surprised to find the same look on the other faces in the room as well, even Ram’s. She smiled a small smile. “Thank you,” she said, her voice quiet. Maybe this time she could truly be safe.

Kira blinked away the tears and looked at Cole, his smile was sympathetic, and sincere. She was surprised to find the same look on the other faces in the room as well, even Ram’s. She smiled a small smile. “Thank you,” she said, her voice quiet. Maybe this time she could truly be safe.

There was a muffled grumbling from behind the door before it swung open to reveal a squat little creature, maybe half Cole’s height. He wore glasses that rested on a long snout and had the look of someone who had just been woken up and might kill whoever had woken them.

There was a muffled grumbling from behind the door before it swung open to reveal a squat little creature, maybe half Cole’s height. He wore glasses that rested on a long snout and had the look of someone who had just been woken up and might kill whoever had woken them.

Cole knelt down and brushed away some petals that had fallen from the branches above. Then he sat. He wracked his brain for the right words to say, and even if he found them, he wasn’t sure if he’d be able to speak.

Cole knelt down and brushed away some petals that had fallen from the branches above. Then he sat. He wracked his brain for the right words to say, and even if he found them, he wasn’t sure if he’d be able to speak.

Ram unwrapped the capsules and activated them, a small needle popping out the top of each. One by one he pressed the capsules into Cole’s arm, making sure to wait the requisite thirty seconds between doses. One WakeUp capsule was usually enough to snap a grown man into sobriety in short order, Ram was up to the third.

Ram unwrapped the capsules and activated them, a small needle popping out the top of each. One by one he pressed the capsules into Cole’s arm, making sure to wait the requisite thirty seconds between doses. One WakeUp capsule was usually enough to snap a grown man into sobriety in short order, Ram was up to the third.