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She shook her head. “No, I’m not. I’m running out of time.”

“That’s the second time you’ve said that. Running out of time for what?”

“To live,” said Melina.

He stopped pacing and stared down at her. “What? You’re dying?”

Melina nodded.

“Are you sick or something?” Lee asked.

“Not really,” she said. “It’s more like my body is being consumed by something it can’t handle.”

“I don’t understand.”

“I know, I know,” she said as she tried to sit back up. “I’m going to tell you everything, starting from the beginning. But it’s a long story, and it’s one you may not believe at first, so please, please don’t say anything until I’m completely finished.”

“Okay, I won’t interrupt you. I promise.”

“Okay,” said Melina. She took in a deep breath and then did her best to tell Lee everything that had happened to her over the past week. She had to pause every now and then to deal with the pain that had now pretty much spread to her entire body, but Lee kept his word and was surprisingly patient.

When she was finished telling him everything, Lee just stared at her. Then his thoughts started up once more as he began to pace again.

Everything she said is crazy and can’t possibly be true. Does she really expect me to believe that angels and demons are real? She has to be telling the truth, though. I saw her light shield and the demons on the video footage, and I just saw her teleport mere minutes ago. Her explanation answered most of my questions, but there are still a few more personal ones I’d like to ask. She seems to be finished, so I think I’m in the clear to ask them.

He stopped in front of her and looked her in the eyes. “So everything that’s happened between us the past week, it was all because you need to help me so that these powers don’t kill you?”

Melina’s voice caught in her throat as she looked up at Lee with a bit of panic in her eyes. Walter had warned her that Lee would probably feel that way and possibly lose his trust in her. She tried to look as sincere as possible as she said, “It may have started out that way, but I started to care for you almost immediately after meeting you.”

“But not like I care for you, right? Not with the same intensity?”

“Lee, I—”

He held his hand up in the air to silence her. “No, I get it. I should’ve known that you had another agenda, just like the rest of them.”

“No Lee, I do have feelings for you.” She slowly stood up from the couch, but again he raised his hand up to stop her.

“Look, you need my help and to do that, I need to allow you to help me. I’m not sure how you’re going to help me, but let’s just stick to that and not complicate things anymore.”

Melina stared at him, a small amount of hurt in her eyes. Fine, if that’s how he wanted it to be then that’s how it would be. She didn’t have much time left anyway, so maybe it was best to go straight after the problem and not have to worry about feelings or any other secondary factors anymore.

Suddenly, the pain that was now coursing through her entire body spiked up dramatically, causing her to cry out and fall back onto the couch. Lee rushed over to her, and she could tell he was talking to her, but she couldn’t make out any actual words.

Henry. I’ve got to call for Henry.

She knew it would freak Lee out to see Henry, but he was her only hope right now. Her body was too weak to make it out to her Jeep, and she knew teleporting would only increase her pain. And she couldn’t take any more pain.

“Henry,” she tried to yell. “Henry, please help me!”

A couple of seconds later a bright yellow light shined throughout the room, and when it diminished, there stood Henry. He rushed over to Melina and picked her up off the couch, ignoring the fact that Lee was even there.

“Henry,” whispered Melina. “Please, take me home.”

Henry glanced over at Lee, finally acknowledging him.

Lee looked back at Henry, his eyes wide, but he finally found his voice. “Please, she needs your help.”

“What’s happened to her?” Henry asked.

“She, she said it was her powers,” Lee stammered.

“That’s not good.” Henry walked over to the damaged window and yanked off the piece of wood that had been put up to cover it. As he dropped it down to the floor, he looked back at Lee. “I’m sorry about your window.” And with that, he and Melina flew through the open space and were gone.

Chapter Twenty-Six

Henry laid Melina down on her couch and then took a step back, giving her some space.

“Thank you for not teleporting,” she said without opening her eyes.

“Of course,” he said. “I figured it would only make your pain worse, am I right?”

Melina nodded. “Yes, I can’t take any more pain right now.”

“What happened to make the pain so unbearable?” he asked. “I knew you were going to Lee’s to talk to him about everything, and when you got there, I saw you teleport in, and then the next thing I see is you in terrible pain.”

She opened her eyes and tried to sit up a bit. “I’m running out of time. The pain isn’t only in my head anymore. It’s all throughout my body now, and the intensity of it comes and goes in waves.”

Henry’s eyes grew big. “You’re running out of time? Are you sure? Do you want me to summon Walter so we can ask him?”

Melina shook her head. “No, I don’t need him to confirm it. I don’t need to deter him from his task again.”

“Then what should we do?”

“You’ve done enough,” she said, giving him a weak smile. “And I’m comforted knowing that you’ll be watching over me. But I think I just need to rest right now and try to figure out how I can still help Lee.”

“Sure,” he said but was hesitant to leave.

“Really,” said Melina. “I’ll be okay.”

“Okay, all right.” He gave her a small wave and then disappeared.

Melina took her coat off and tossed it on the floor. She then grabbed the blanket off the back of the couch, covered herself up, and lay back down and closed her eyes. What was she going to do? Lee seemed to believe her about everything and wasn’t too angry, but he wouldn’t hear her out when she'd tried to tell him that she cared about him as well. Would it have mattered if he had heard her out, though? He seemed to be hurt when he assumed that she didn’t care for him in the same way.

She lay there and thought about it for a while. They had only known each other for a little over a week, and last night was their first real date, but she felt like they had known each other for much longer. Yes, the feelings were definitely there, and the more and more she thought about it, she knew she felt as strongly as Lee did. How could she get him to believe her, though?

First of all, she had to get him to see that his father truly didn’t hate him. If she wanted any chance with him romantically, she had to survive these powers first. But how? She continued to lie there as she wracked her brains for an answer. Suddenly she thought of Tessa, always so optimistic and always wanting to help.

She sat up from the couch and dug her cell phone out of her coat pocket to send Tessa a quick text. “If you still want to help me, then meet me at my apartment tomorrow morning around nine.”

She hit the send button and then slowly made her way back to her bedroom. Hopefully the pain wouldn’t keep her up all night, and she could at least get a little bit of sleep.

She didn’t have the energy to change or even wash off her make-up, so she kicked her shoes off and climbed into bed fully clothed. Her cell phone suddenly beeped with a text from Tessa.

Of course
.
I’ll see you tomorrow morning.

Melina laid her phone on her night stand, turned off the lamp and then covered herself up with her sheets and comforter. It wasn’t even that late yet, but she needed the rest. The pain had eased for now and within a few minutes she was out.

The pain plagued her all throughout the night. She had only been asleep for two hours when she awoke in a cold sweat, screaming out in agony. She struggled to sit up and then fumbled her way into the bathroom and switched on the light. Her hair and clothes were drenched, so she threw her clothes off into the hamper and stepped into the shower.

The hot water helped to dull the pain to a bearable amount, and she was actually able to stand unsupported long enough to wash her hair and body. She didn’t want to push her luck by lingering in the shower, though, so she turned the water off and wrapped a towel around herself before stepping out. After drying her hair to where it was only a little damp, she put some pajamas on and climbed back into bed.

Almost three hours later, the pain woke her up again. She curled up in a ball, her eyes shut tight, pleading for it to pass soon. Luckily for her it did, and she drifted off to sleep once again.

At four in the morning the pain woke her once more. It wasn’t as bad, though, and didn’t last as long either. When it finally dulled down, she wondered if she should just stay up. She lay there pondering it, but her body ended up deciding for her.

Four hours later, she fluttered her eyes open and saw the sun pouring in through her window. She looked at the clock and saw that it was eight o’clock on the dot. Tessa would be there in an hour, so she reluctantly climbed out of bed and headed into the bathroom to get ready for the day.

After fixing her hair and make-up, she walked over to her closet and picked out a pair of jeans and a dark red sweater to wear. She quickly dressed and then went out to the kitchen table to read the morning paper, when she heard a knock on the door and Tessa calling out her name.

“Right on time,” Melina said as she stood up and went to open the door.

“Good morning,” Tessa said with a smile as she held up a tray with two cappuccinos in one hand and a small box of doughnuts in the other.

“Sugar.” Melina nodded in approval as she ushered her friend inside. “Just what I need.” She grabbed a couple of plates out of the cupboard, and they both sat down at the kitchen table.

“Melina, is everything okay?” Tessa asked as she picked a doughnut out of the box. “You look tired and… distracted.”

“No,” Melina replied, deciding to be blunt. “I don’t have much time left.”

Tessa dropped her doughnut and stared at her friend. “What? Are you serious? How do you know? And how are you able to be so calm about it?”

“The pain has intensified and has radiated to my entire body now, not just my head. But for now, it comes and goes in waves. And the reason I’m acting so calm is because what happened to my parents and the other three humans isn’t going to happen to me. I’m not going to let the powers consume me. My guardian angel is helping me, and I can still find a way to help Lee, all feelings aside.”

“Feelings?” At first Tessa looked confused and then it dawned on her. “Wait, you have feelings for Lee? Why haven’t you told me before now?”

Melina took a drink of her cappuccino and then grabbed a doughnut from the box. “I just realized it myself yesterday.”

“Okay, and?” Tessa prompted.

Melina took another sip of her drink and then filled Tessa in on everything that had happened over the past two days. Tessa listened intently, and when Melina was done, she wasn’t sure where to start.

“Wow,” was all she could say at first. “That’s a lot to process.”

“Yeah, I know,” Melina replied.

“Well, at least Lee agreed to still let you help him,” Tessa said, trying to make the statement sound positive.

“I guess,” Melina said as she shrugged. “But if he doesn’t fully trust me, then it doesn't matter how much he allows me to help him.”

“You think you ruined his trust in you by coming clean and telling him everything?”

“I don't know,” said Melina as she picked at her doughnut. “Walter said that getting our charges to care for us and trust in us is a key part to connecting with them and getting to the bottom of their problems. The caring and the trust go hand in hand. I know he cares for me. Whether it's still in a romantic sense is questionable now, but I really need him to trust in me. Completely trust in me. And even though I came clean about what was going on, I’m afraid it might’ve been too late.”

“Well,” said Tessa. “There’s only one way to find out.”

Melina nodded. “I need to help him see that his father didn’t hate him. But how?” She threw her hands up, exaggerating the point. “The more I say it, the more impossible it sounds. He doesn’t even believe his own mother or sister.”

Tessa rested her chin on her hand as she thought. A moment later she said, “Maybe that’s the problem. Maybe he thinks they’re only saying that for his sake. You know, like that’s what they think they should say to him. Is there someone else who knew his father well but is also not afraid to tell it like it is? If we could find someone like that who knew that his father truly didn’t hate him, then maybe Lee would believe it.”

“That’s a great idea, Tess, but I wouldn’t know where to start. His father was well-known by a lot of people.”

“Come on, Melina! Think.”

Melina jumped a little in her chair as she looked up at Tessa, shocked at her friend’s sudden forceful tone.

Tessa didn’t notice as she continued on. “Your life is at stake. I don’t want to hear you say again that you don’t know where to start. Now think. Someone he may have known who has a reputation for always telling the truth, or someone who has to tell the truth because it’s his job, like a pastor or something.”

Melina, who was still in a bit of shock, continued to stare at her friend. Tessa was right. She could do it. She just needed more confidence and, like always, Tessa had reminded her of it. After a minute or so, she surprised herself by actually thinking of someone who might be able to help.

“Mr. Harvey,” she said aloud.

“Okay, we have a name. That’s good!” said Tessa, excitement lighting up her eyes. “Now, who’s Mr. Harvey?”

“He was his father’s attorney.”

“Alright then,” said Tessa. “Mr. Harvey the attorney, it is. Do you know where we can find him?”

Melina nodded. “I think so. There’s a Richard Harvey who’s an attorney downtown. My guess is that’s him.”