Chapter 76

"I'm so scared, Danyal," I croak, my words slurred together. "I don't want to die. I'm so scared that one day at dinner they'll attack, like they did with my parents. I don't want to die like them." Danyal pets my hair and runs a soothing hand up and down my back. "You won't die like them, I won't let you." I press my flushed cheek against my forearm, weakly reaching up and flicking down on the switch, the water in the toilet swirls around and gurgles as it goes down. My glossy eyes move to his and my lips tremble. "You can't stop everything." He leans closer, his eyes growing serious. "I won't let you die." I shrug my shoulders hopelessly. "I don't want to." Danyal pulls me closer and hugs me, his head resting on top of mine, I hear him exhale deeply. "Carina, there is something else." I pull away a little, looking into his hooded eyes with worry. My grip on his shoulders tighten and I stop breathing again.