The tense atmosphere in the room was suddenly broken by Elly's moan. Joe held her a little tighter. Gently stroking her face, he whispered softly:
"Eleanor... if you can hear me, I'm here. I'm by your side."
It was as if he was suffering along with her, and though Eva couldn't make sense of it until now, she had always felt Joe's emotions. Now she understood them, knowing they came from the same mother. This way, she had come to better understand Joe's love for Elly.
Elly, meanwhile, was drenched in sweat. Her eyelids were trembling, and the seal on her arm was becoming increasingly prominent, spreading across her skin. It pulsed as if it were alive, and with each throb, the young woman's body convulsed.
Eva immediately crouched beside her. She realized her consciousness was still not
