The Tethering: The Complete Collection

Prologue-3

The water was wonderful and cool. Emilia ran through the trees, grabbed the long rope, and swung out over the deepest part of the water before letting go. The air shot from her lungs as she pushed herself up to the surface, laughing.

“Come on, Jacob!” she called.

But Jacob sat in the shallow water, shaking his head. “Emi, I don’t think we should use the rope.”

Emilia scrambled out of the water and ran back through the trees, the pine needles pricking her feet as she prepared to charge back to the rope.

“I don’t think it’s safe,” Jacob shouted.

Emilia had already started running toward the water. She glanced back at Jacob, sticking out her tongue as she grabbed the rope. She soared out over the glistening water and knew something was wrong. The rope swung in an arc back over the rocky bank.

Emilia screamed as the rope slipped from her grasp. She felt her wrist snap, and something sharp pierced the top of her forehead when she hit the ground.

“Emi!”

There was splashing behind her.

“Emilia.” Jacob knelt next to her.

She tried to sit up. The trees swam in front of her eyes, but everything looked red. Somehow strangely red.

“It’s okay.” Jacob wiped something from her face. A smear of red streaked his palm, and she knew it was blood. Her blood. “Everything is going to be okay.”

Emilia forced her eyes to focus on Jacob. He was pale, and his eyes were wide.

“You’re going to be fine,” Jacob whispered.

Suddenly, a warmth moved up her fingers into her arm. Heat burned in the top of her head. She gasped at the pain shooting down through her skull.

And then it was gone. All the pain had vanished.

Tears glistened in Jacob’s eyes and something else she had never seen before. Her lungs turned to lead.

“I’m fine, Jacob,” Emilia said, trying not to choke on the fear that was drowning her. “I’m fine.”

* * * *

“I have to go.”

“Please, Emilia, you can’t do this.” Jacob grabbed her hand, pulling her away from the window. “You can’t leave me.”

“I have to.” Tears streamed down her face. “I’m sorry I can’t explain, but I have to go.”

“Then take me with you.”

“I can’t.”

“Emi, please,” Jacob begged, but Emilia pulled her hand away.

“No.” Her voice broke. She needed to go now, while she could still make herself do it. She slipped her necklace over her head and pressed it into his hand. “I’ll come back for you, I promise.” She climbed out the window and onto the porch roof. “I’ll come back for you as soon as I can. Don’t forget me.”