“Help me.”
What the hell? I hear a voice echoing in my head, like someone I know. Who is mind-linking me? It’s not even someone from the pack! Aside from me, I don’t know anyone who would be able to-
“Help me!”
I feel weird. I’m cold, and out of breath. So fucking cold, as if I was outside, in the rain, under that downpour. What the… I look at my face in the mirror, clenching my fists on the sink as if I’m about to fall. I look behind my shoulder as if someone were there, someone is pursuing me. What the hell is wrong with me?
Who’s voice is that? It’s a woman, no, a girl’s voice I’ve never heard before. Yet, it’s resonating like an echo in my head, like someone talking underwater or behind a wall.
“Run, run…”
Who is running? To where? Is she in danger?
I stagger, trying to distinguish between what’s real and what’s in my head. Her voice is so strong, I have to fight to remember where I am.
“He will kill me!”
I start crying, irrepressibly. I’m scared, I’m so scared. I crouch down, unable to keep my balance. My tears pour out, without me being able to control them. I don’t know what’s going on!
“Elena? Elena, are you okay?”
Bonnie just appeared at the entrance of the bathroom to find me sitting down and crying. She runs to me, putting her hands on my shoulders.
“Elena, what’s wrong? Elena? Danny! Levi! Mom! Elena, tell me what’s wrong, please?”
But I have no idea what’s wrong with me, or why I’m so cold and scared. A few seconds later, half the Lewis family is around me, trying to soothe me and get me to calm down. Their mom even puts a blanket around me, and Daniel checks me everywhere to look for an invisible injury.
“Babe, talk to me, what’s wrong? Did something happen?”
I just shake my head and struggle to calm down. I should probably try to ignore that voice, break that link between her and me, but for some reason, I can’t. I don’t want to lose it, to lose that connection.
At some point, I realize Levi is carrying me out of the bathroom. I’m taken to the couch, where they surround me again, trying to decide on what to do.
“Should we get a doctor?” asks Bonnie, worried.
“She is not injured, it looks like a panic attack. Can you grab the tablets in my bag? Levi, go get another blanket, she’s shivering. Get the thermometer, too! Mom, can you make us some hot chocolate?”
Everyone runs to do whatever Daniel said, while I’m still struggling. My crying has stopped, and I’m getting less and less scared too. It’s like it’s fading away.
“Babe? Elena, are you with me? Talk to me, babe.”
“I’m fine.”
Daniel rolls his eyes.
“How are you fine? I’ve been trying to get you to talk or mind-link for at least ten minutes! What happened? Do you need anything?”
I try to catch my breath and think.
“Can I get something to drink? My throat feels awful.”
“Mom’s making it. Elena, what was that? Your skin is freaking cold, too. That wasn’t a panic attack, right?”
“No… I think someone mind-linked me?”
Danny and Bonnie exchange a look, surprised. Behind them, I notice Ben’s on the phone, talking about my condition to someone.
“Mind-linked you? Someone in the pack?”