Hollow-Born

My Human Mi

s had started blending together in one endless green smear. Red's heartbeat was loud in my ears, a steady rhythm o

snarling breath behind us. I slowed. Red did too, nearly

lowing us," s

e Alpha's scent had faded. Faint, lik

either he gave up, or he's jus

ground with a dramatic huff. Red slid down the tree

d her to. She'd helped when I needed her to, she'd run when we were supposed to and

kind that's too quiet. The kind that

tell her she did good

, like a surprised giggle. But then it kept goi

ed my

That's not om

And then she cried. Really cried. Big, ugly sobs that tore out

this was an emotional buffe

going insane," I thought, staring at

bit to shake off some dirt. "Hey. Come on. Pull it together. We d

face, still sniff

" I thought. "

always is. Even when I had this asthma attack when I was eight and th

e mood to debate. I gave a short, approving huff and trotted ahead

made you wonder if it was painted or just really dusty. The porch cre

tension in her shoulders ea

ss as walked by. Picture frames. The arm of the couch. On

ing my worst asthma attack. Could barely breathe, and Ev still went to work. Came back with meds and ice c

t insane, she's sa

, to her room, and as soon as the door closed behind us, I

caught sight of the dresser. I sni

y strip of nothingness. "Seriou

with what looks like a

rfume bottle that smelled like sugary flowers and de

help," I

herself. Then she turned to me. "You're

quivalent. Then, slowly, I turned to show her

"Wait... yo

e looked down at herself. Her arms, her side-e

o

le. "I'm... Hollow-

t, She

we separate? You're supposed to be inside me.

at she'd be able to handle right now, with

ned. Then we both

Red wh

een jackets and boots, leaving just enough space to nudge the

ce rang up the stairs, warm and

," she called,

f hurried footsteps.

ed. You weren't home this morning and... God, your

I warned. "Do

She told he

enough. About the Alph

nic. She sat quietly by the door for a m

"We need to

lf, they won't be able to track you.

use

ut inside our link, so sha

!" I shouted th

in her voice. "No. No,

door, padded out with p

elyn smelled... wrong. Famil

e scent hit me like a punch to the gut. The same trace of cold

head toward

hesitate.

down the stairs. Evelyn'

didn't

e didn't

d already

r whipping in the wind and breath ragged, I knew one thi