Chapter 43 Shadows Gather

• Above me, the thick canopy of the forest extended, its branches interlaced against the gray sky like skeleton fingers. Shallow gasps of breath came from me, still ragged from the altercation that almost killed us both. The dark blood stain on Sebastian's shirt forced him to lean against a tree and grip his side. I looked at him.
• "Are you okay?" In a gentle tone, I asked.
• He smiled at me, a terrible smile that fell short of his eyes. "What does 'okay' mean, Evelyn? Anyways, I can endure.