Monday, May 7th, 9:17 PM

Elise stared at Mako, never having had someone willingly say those words to her.

"Help me?" she said with a laugh through aching eyes. "How in the world do you plan on doing that?"

She watched the cogs inside his head turn.

"I don't know, exactly," he said. "But I do know that you need to be free of this horrible situation.

Elise paused for a moment; Mako's sentiment and genuine good nature seized control of her. She buried her face in ...