Page 41 of Until the Sea Runs Dry

A concerned voice was talking to her. A woman. But what was she saying?

Something about her breath… That she was having a panic attack. Her voice sounded so far away that Jane couldn’t be sure she’d heard correctly.

Nothing was real right now except for her inability to breathe and that tightness inside her chest.

And the man with no face, in that suit, who had filled her with such chills.

“Give her some room,” an older woman commanded.

Dimly, she knew it was Helena taking charge. There was a click click click sound in the background that she didn’t like. That click signified intrusion into this already stressful moment.

“Sweetheart. You are having a panic attack, but you will be fine. You just have to keep breathing in and out,” Helena said firmly.

Jane felt someone take hold of her hand.

“I am here,” Helena assured her, her voice sounded right beside her now.

“Just keep breathing. In, then out. In, then out.”

Jane forced her mind and body to focus on Helena’s simple instruction. In and out. That’s all she had to do. Breathe in, expel out.

A few breaths later, and the edges of the room had started to become clear again. The faceless man in front of her reverted back to Logan. She blinked, unsure why she was in a heap on the floor while four concerned people, and one whining puppy, loomed over her.

“What happened?”

Though she directed the question at the room, it was Logan who answered.

“Something triggered you into having a panic attack,” he answered softly.

“But, nothing happened? I don’t understand.”

Still on her knees beside her, Helena patted her hand. “First, you must recover. You can worry about what might have caused the reaction, later.”

Her head inclined toward Karsten, recording everything in the room. Jane sent a silent prayer of thanks her way. It had been on the tip of her tongue to mention the man’s voice she had heard. Instead, she fell silent.

“Do you need a medic?” Logan asked.

“No. I don’t want another doctor.”

There was more panic in her voice than she’d intended, but the last thing she wanted was more examinations. She’d had enough of those to last a lifetime.

“Maybe you should go home. I’ll get my driver to drop you and Loki off.”

Jane wasn’t sure if the uncertainty in his voice was concern or annoyance. He was probably regretting his offer for her to accompany him, already. It was no wonder he wanted to send her home. It was a mistake for her to come here in the first place. She didn’t belong here.

She didn’t belong anywhere.

She hugged Loki close as Logan called his driver. All in all, this day hadn’t turned out how she had hoped it would at all.

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