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I dropped my arms； and he took a deep breath。 Slowly； he loosened both his hands and then placed
them lightly on my shoulders。
“Explain；” he said。
“She’s not here；” I whispered； still breathing in gasps。 “I can’t find her。 Not even now。”
“Melanie？”
“I can’t hear her！ Ian； how can I go back in to Jamie？ He’ll know that I’m lying！ How can I tell him that
I’ve lost his sisternow？ Ian； he’s sick！ I can’t tell him that！ I’ll upset him； make it harder for him to get
well。 I —”
Ian’s fingers pressed against my lips。 “Shh； shh。 Okay。 Let’s think about this。 When was the last time
Jamie； but he’s going to be fine regardless。 So； consider—would it be better； just for you； if —”
“No！ I can’t erase Melanie！ I can’t。 That would be wrong！ That would make me a monster； too！”
“Okay； okay！ Okay。 Shh。 So we have to find her？”
I nodded urgently。
He took another deep breath。 “Then you need to… really be overwhelmed； don’t you？”
“I don’t know what you mean。”
I was afraid I did； though。
Kissing Ian was one thing—even a pleasant thing； maybe； if I wasn’t so racked with worry—but
anything more… elaborate… Could I？ Mel would be furious if I used her body that way。 Was that what
I had to do to find her？ But what about Ian？ It was so grossly unfair to him。
“I’ll be right back；” Ian promised。 “Stayhere。 ”
He pressed me against the wall for emphasis and then ducked back out into the hallway。
It was hard to obey。 I wanted to follow him； to see what he was doing and where he was going。 We had
to talk about this； I had to think it through。 But I had no time。 Jamie was waiting for me； with questions
that I couldn’t answer with lies。 No； he wasn’t waiting for me； he was waiting for Melanie。 How could I
have done this？ What if she was really gone？
Mel； Mel； Mel； e back！ Melanie； Jamie needs you。 Not me—he needsyou。He’s sick； Mel。 Mel；
can you hear that？ Jamie is sick！
I was talking to myself。 No one heard。
My hands were trembling with fear and stress。 I wouldn’t be able to wait here much longer。 I felt like the
anxiety was going to make me swell until I popped。
Finally； I heard footsteps。 And voices。 Ian wasn’t alone。 Confusion swept through me。
“Just think of it as… an experiment；” Ian was saying。
“Are you crazy？” Jared answered。 “Is this some sick joke？”
My stomach dropped through the floor。
Overwhelmed。That’s what he’d meant。
Ian and Jared came into view in the room where the tunnels met。 Ian’s face was expressionless； he had
one hand on Jared’s shoulder and was guiding him； almost pushing him forward。 Jared was staring at Ian
with anger and doubt。
“Through here；” Ian encouraged； forcing Jared toward me。 I flattened my back against the rock。
Jared saw me； saw my mortified expression； and stopped。
“Wanda； what’s this about？”
I threw Ian one blazing glance of reproach and then tried to meet Jared’s eyes。
I couldn’t do it。 I looked at his feet instead。
“I lost Melanie；” I whispered。
“Youlost her！”
I nodded miserably。
His voice was hard and angry。 “How？”
“I’m not sure。 I made her be quiet… but she always es back… always before… I can’t hear her
now… and Jamie…”
“She’s gone？” Muted agony in his voice。
“I don’t know。 I can’t find her。”
Deep breath。 “Why does Ian think I have to kiss you？”
“Not kissme； ” I said； my voice so faint I could barely hear it myself。 “Kiss her。 Nothing upset her more
than when you kissed us… before。 Nothing pulled her to the surface like that。 Maybe… No。 You don’t
have to。 I’ll try to find her myself。”
I still had my eyes on his feet； so I saw him step toward me。
“You think； if I kiss her… ？”
I couldn’t even nod。 I tried to swallow。
Familiar hands brushed my neck； tracing down either side to my shoulders。 My heart thudded loud
enough that I wondered if he could hear it。
I was so embarrassed； forcing him to touch me this way。 What if he thought it was a trick—my idea； not
Ian’s？
One hand continued； as I knew it would； down my arm to my wrist； leaving a trail of fire behind it。 The
other cupped beneath my jaw； as I knew it must； and pulled my face up。
His cheek pressed against mine； the skin burning where we were connected； and he whispered in my
ear。
“Melanie。 I know you’re there。 e back to me。”
His cheek slowly slid back； and his chin tilted to the side so that his mouth covered mine。
Hetried to kiss me softly。 I could tell that he tried。 But his intentions went up in smoke； just like before。
There was fireeverywhere； becausehe was everywhere。 His hands traced my skin； burning it。 His lips
tasted every inch of my face。 The rock wall slammed into my back； but there was no pain。 I couldn’t feel
anything besides the burning。
My hands knotted in his hair； pulling him to me as if there were any possible way for us to be closer。 My
legs wrapped around his waist； the wall giving me the leverage I needed。 His tongue twisted with mine；
and there was no part of my mind that was not invaded by the insane desire that possessed me。
He pulled his mouth free and pressed his lips to my ear again。
“Melanie Stryder！” It was so loud in my ear； a growl that was almost a shout。 “You willnot leave me。
Don’t you love me？ Prove it！Prove it！ Damn it； Mel！ Get back here！”
His lips attacked mine again。
Ahhh；she groaned weakly in my head。
I couldn’t think to greet her。 I was on fire。
The fire burned its way to her； back to the tiny corner where she drooped； nearly lifeless。
My hands fisted around the fabric of Jared’s T…shirt； yanking it up。 This was their idea； I didn’t tell them
what to do。 His hands burned on the skin of my back。
Jared？she whispered。 She tried to orient herself； but the mind we shared was so disoriented。
I felt the muscles of his stomach under my palms； my hands crushed between us。
What？ Where…Melanie struggled。
I broke away from his mouth to breathe； and his lips scorched their way down my throat。 I buried my
face in his hair； inhaling the scent