Page 91 of Juliet's Echo

Psalm.

Instantly, the panic loosened.

“He loves me,” I whispered, my voice finally finding its way back.

This was the second time Psalm had pulled me out of an episode. The second time he'd become my strength when I didn't have any left.

“What?” Yahya asked.

My eyes slowly drifted back from outer space and landed on hers.

“Psalm,” I signed.

Understanding immediately crossed her face.

“You want to go to Psalm's?”

I nodded.

“Okay. Okay. We can do that,” she said, relief flooding her voice.

She took hold of my arm and pulled me close enough to kiss my cheek. Softly, I eased from her grip and walked into Mega's arms instead. He wrapped them around me so tightly that a sob escaped him.

“I am so sorry, Ju,” he cried. “I never—”

“Shhh,” I cut him off. “Not your fault.”

When we finally pulled apart, Mega grabbed both of my hands.

“Whatever it is, you know I got you,” he declared.

“We got you,” Yahya added.

A small smile found its way to my face despite everything. I was exhausted, confused, terrified, and completely unsure how to tell Psalm. Or worse, how I was supposed to approach Echo.

With trembling fingers, I handed Yahya my keys.

The three of us climbed into my Jeep, and as she pulled out of the parking lot, I stared through the passenger window, wondering if my life had started as a Shakespearean tragedy and no one had thought to give me a copy of the script.

Alonse

“Perfect. Yes. That’s perfect.”

My leg bounced uncontrollably as I clutched my phone against my ear.

“Yes, sir,” the airline representative replied. “Your driver has already been dispatched. Estimated arrival is fifteen minutes.”

Thirty more minutes and I was finally getting the hell out of Havenbrook.

“Tell him to ring the bell. Waiting outside is not something I do. Do not call me when he’s five minutes away. Instruct him to get out of the car and ring the bell.”

It would be just like Simone to try and get revenge on me right before I headed back home.

I would've left the moment I saw her ghost in the form of Psalm’s little girlfriend, but the precautions I required when flying privately made it difficult to find pilots and crew willing to accommodate me. So, for the last few dreadful days, I'd been ghost-prepping this house.

Sage and Florida Water had become a part of my daily regimen.

There was even a local root worker willing to consult with me over the phone, and all it took was his confirmation of Simone’s presence for me to spiral completely.