I let out a loud breath and blinked hard. When I turned to glance around, I saw that Rhys had left. My thoughts seemed to have been drawn out from under the surface.

A state of trance!

Rhys's mind was still wandering about. He still knew. He had recognized Matilda's frailty.

Still hunched over the old blankets, I looked at Matilda. She breathed slowly and had pale skin. As she attempted to talk, I drew her in closer.

"The...the..." I tried to hear her by leaning in.

"The ...