Chapter 26 Boiling Over

• Marina
• Present
• I wake with the crushing disappointment that I am indeed alive. Julien didn't kill me. My throat is sore and there's a heavy grip on my hand. My eyes flutter open and all the pain returns. It's no longer just my back and abdomen that throbs, but my neck as well. My eyes dart to my left where I see Julien kneeling with his head lowered. He's mumbling to himself and I can't make out the words. He's also crushing my hand. He doesn't yet know I'm awake and I bite my lip to stifle a painful cry as his grip on my hand tightens.