(Hey everyone!! I hope you are all staying healthy and safe. After a long delay, I'm back with a new chapter AND this story has almost 1,000 reads?! SO CRAZY! As always, thank you so much for reading and I hope you enjoy.)

"Be careful who you trust, Skylar."

"Be careful with what you do."

"You're special, Sky. Be careful with what people want from you and what you decide to give them."

"Don't get caught."

"Please don't die."

"You have to keep going for us."

"You're all we have left."

I finally realize who it is.

Claire.

I start to reach out for her, but she turns the other way and walks directly into the way of the fire.

She turns around to look me in the eyes before she continues to walk forward.

She stops as the flames engulf her tiny body, burning her clothes first before trying to reach her skin.

I start to scream.

I sit up and open my eyes quickly.

My stomach begins to churn and I promptly run to the bathroom to empty the contents of my stomach. In any other situation, I would've been alarmed at the lack of food in my system, but in this moment I can't even focus on anything in front of me. I sit back on the floor as my hands shake and I try to grasp on to the rug beneath me. Anything to keep me from falling.

A chill washes over me and my body begins to shiver. I've somehow moved slightly over to the side of the tub and I rest my head on it. The dizziness just won't go away.

I feel someone's presence in the doorway. I can't turn to look them in the eyes.

I think about Claire's eyes in my dream. How they looked so frightened yet unknowing. How she knew she couldn't fight anymore.

The thought makes my chest tighten and I move to throw up again.

I feel like I have no control of my body.

My vision begins to go black and my throat feels like it's starting to close. Fresh tears leak out of my eyes.

I can't process what's happening to me.

I suddenly feel Cole's hands messing with my hair. He gently moves it out of the way of my face.

He puts his hand on my shoulder. "Hey. Hey, look at me."

I turn to face him, but I can't bring myself to look in his eyes.

"Look at me."

My breathing gets faster. I feel like I'm stuck underwater and I can't get up to breathe.

I look up.

His blue eyes no longer look dull, but rather full of life. Scared. Sympathetic. Emotion swirls throughout them.

They meet my tired brown orbs.

"You're okay."

He softly touches my arms.

"I'm not going to let anyone hurt you. You're safe here, okay? Breathe."

I find myself clinging to his arms now and I try to breathe with him.

"Keep going, you're doing good."

I find a reassurance in his voice and my mind allows myself to take it.

After my breathing starts to return to normal, exhaustion rushes through my body.

Cole picks himself up from the floor and offers his hand to me.

"Do you think you can stand?"

My voice surprises me as it comes out quiet and raspy.

"I think so."

I use the wall to steady myself as I stand. It's only when I start to walk that I feel the exhaustion truly ache through every part of my body.

Cole lets go of my hand only after he leads me to the bed.

"Are you hungry? You should probably eat."

"No, but I agree with you. I really need to eat." My voice is still quiet.

He turns to go to the side of the room with the small kitchen.

I hesitate to say what's about to come out of my mouth. Cole hears the hesitation and looks at me. I mentally scold myself for opening my mouth in the first place.

"First of all, I'm sorry that I keep doing this and putting you through it."

"You shouldn't be sorry."

I start to think back to my dream, but I stop myself from going too far.

"But I need to know what I'm doing here."

"What do you-"

"Please, please... Tell me what I'm doing here, what you want from me, anything, something. I can't do this anymore."

"If I tell you, I'll get in trouble."

"Please."

He stares at his hands before he looks in my eyes again.

"Okay. But I need you to at least eat something, okay? You're going to need your strength."

My breathing comes a little easier this time. "Okay. I will."