Page 12 of The Price They Paid

“Justice …” I fought to open my eyes, but the faint voice called out to me until I was awake.

I looked around the moonlit room to see no one there but me. I frowned and sat up but continued to see nothing. I laid back and closed my eyes, and the calls began again. This time I listened harder and realized that they came from Seuss through echoes of my mind.

I used the adjoining door to enter his room where he lay asleep. His lips appeared to be bluer than earlier, and the chill coming from him pierced the room. I looked for more blankets and put them over him.

“Justice … lay … with … me …”

The words reverberated throughout my mind. Damn it Seuss! I knew he was going to be cold and there was no amount of preparing for it, but I could try. I ran back into the master suite and grabbed the blankets from the bed and put them over him before climbing in beside him. I put my hand against his and I pulled the blankets over me to keep me warm. The chill was bone aching, but slowly he started to warm. I moved closer hoping to spread the warmth.

“You’ve got some nerve asking me to warm you up after you tried to burn my arm off,” I mumbled.

I felt his chuckle more than I heard it in my mind, and I smiled. His laugh was stronger than his voice had been when he’d reached out to me. That was a good sign.

“We’ve got to get you better. Your people need you.” I yawned, feeling drained. I rested my head on his shoulder before succumbing to sleep.

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