Chapter 44 Chapter 42 Forced

Ian's jaw dropped: "What's wrong with you?" "I'll explain later, it's not fair to you, but please, kiss me." "Won't that upset you? Won't Melanie interfere?" "Issie!" I complained, "Please!" Still confused, he put his hands around my waist and pulled me onto him.He looked suspicious, and I doubted it would work.I don't need this romance, but maybe he does. He approached me with his eyes closed, naturally.His lips pressed lightly to mine, then stepped back, still looking at me with concern. Nothing happened.

"No, Ian, a real kiss, like you're trying to get slapped, understand?" "No, what's the matter? Tell me first." I wrapped my arms around his neck, it felt weird and I wasn't at all sure what to do.I tiptoed and hooked his head down until I could touch his lips. This doesn't work for creatures of other species, whose thoughts and emotions are not so easily manipulated by the body.Other species have more organized needs, but Ian is human and his body responds. My mouth was pressed against his, and when his first instinct was to push me away, I wrapped my arms around his neck even tighter.Remembering the way he kissed me last time, I tried to imitate his movements.He parted his lips, and I felt a strange joy of success.I bit his lower lip between my teeth and was surprised to hear a low, longing sound come from his throat.

Next, I don't have to try.Ian cupped my face in one hand and put his other around my waist, so close to each other that it was hard for me to breathe.I gasped, and so did he, our breaths mingling.I felt my back touch the stone wall and press against it.He leaned against the wall and hugged me even tighter, there was no part of our bodies that wasn't held together. Just the two of us, so close, almost as one. there's only us. nobody else. alone together. He noticed when I stopped.He must've been waiting for this moment - he's not quite as physically bound as I imagined him to be.No sooner had I let go of my arms than he stepped back, but his face was still very close to mine, nose to nose.

I dropped my arms and he took a deep breath.Slowly, he let go of his hand, and then gently placed it on my shoulder. "Explain," he said. "She's not here," I whispered, still panting, "I can't find her, not even now." "Melanie?" "I can't hear her! How can I get back to Jamie, Ian? He'll know I'm lying! How can I tell him I've lost his sister now? Ian, he's sick! I can't Tell him! It will make him sad and make it harder for him to get better, I''" Ian put his finger on my lips. "Shh, well, let's think about it. When was the last time you heard her voice?"

"Oh Ian! That's when I saw it in the hospital and she tried to defend them and I yelled at her and I- I told her to go away! I haven't heard her since , I can't find her!" "Shh," he said again, "be quiet, all right. Now, what do you really want? I know you don't want to upset Jamie, but he's going to be all right anyway. Think about it, then— —wouldn't it be better for you if" "No! I can't kill Melanie! I can't! That's a mistake! Turn me into a demon too!" "Okay, okay! That's okay. Shhh, so we have to find her?"

I nodded eagerly. He took another deep breath. "Then you need to get really overwhelmed, right?" "I do not understand what you mean." But, I'm afraid I know what he means. Kissing Ian was one thing—if I wasn't so worried, maybe it would even be enjoyable—but could I do anything more complicated?Mel would be furious if I used her body like this.Do I have to do that to find her?But what about Ian?It was so unfair to him. "I'll be right back," Ian assured me, "stay here." He pressed me against the wall for emphasis, then bent over and turned and walked back into the hall.

It was difficult to follow orders, I wanted to follow him and see where he went and what he did.We have to talk about it, I have to think about it, but I don't have time.Jamie was waiting for me, and the questions I couldn't lie about.No, he's not waiting for me, he's waiting for Melanie.How do I do something like this?If she does go? Mel, Mel, Mel, come back!Melanie, Jamie needs you.It's not me - he needs you.He's sick, Mel, Mel, can you hear me?Jamie is sick! I was talking to myself and no one heard me. My hands are shaking with fear and stress, and I can't wait here any longer.I felt like my anxious mood was puffing me up and I was about to explode.

Finally, I heard footsteps.And the voices, Ian is not alone.I was full of doubts. "Take this as an experiment," Ian said. "Are you crazy?" Jared replied. "Is this a cheap joke?" My heart sank to the floor. Overwhelmed, that's what he meant. The blood on my face burned like Jamie's fever.What is Ian going to do to me?I wanted to escape, to hide somewhere more secluded than my last hiding place, somewhere I would never, never be found, no matter how many flashlights they used, but my legs shook and I Can't move. Ian and Jared appear in the room where the tunnels meet.Ian was expressionless, and he put a hand on Jared's shoulder to lead him the way, almost pushing him forward, and Jared stared at Ian angrily and suspiciously.

"Come through here," Ian said encouragingly, pushing Jared in front of me, and I leaned against the rock. Jared looked at me, saw my troubled expression, and stopped. "Xiao Man, what's going on?" I shot Ian a reproachful glance, then tried to meet Jared's eyes. I can't do it, I can only look at his feet. "I lost Melanie," I said softly. "You lost her!" I nodded painfully. His voice became harsh and angry: "What's going on?" "I'm not sure, I told her to be quiet but she always comes back before now I can't hear her and Jamie"

"She's gone?" His voice contained anger. "I don't know, I can't find her." He took a deep breath: "Why does Ian think I have to kiss you?" "It's not kissing me," I said, my voice so faint I could barely hear myself, "it was kissing her. Nothing ever made her sadder than when you kissed us. Nothing brought her back like that. It's something that came out. Maybe—no, you don't have to do this, I will find a way to find her by myself. " My eyes remained on his feet, and I saw him approaching me. "What do you think if I kiss her"

I didn't even dare to nod, and swallowed hard. Familiar hands caressed my neck and slid down my neck to my shoulders.My heart was beating so hard I wondered if he could hear it. I felt too embarrassed to force him to touch me in this way.If he thinks it's a ruse—my idea, not Ian's? I don't know if Ian is still there watching, how much does it hurt him? As I expected, one of his hands continued to slide down my arm to the wrist, leaving a trail of flames where the skin was touched.Just as I thought, the other hand supported my chin and lifted my head. His face pressed against mine, the skin burning where it touched, and he whispered in my ear. "Melanie, I know you're there, come back to me." He slowly moved his cheek away, tilted his chin to one side, and covered mine with his mouth. He tried to kiss me tenderly, I could tell he was trying, but his emotions went up like fireworks, just like before. There is flame everywhere because he is everywhere.His hands caressed my skin, burning it, his lips tasted every inch of my cheek.The rocky walls poked at my back, but there was no pain.I can't feel anything but a burning sensation. I put my arms around his head and pulled him toward me, as if there was some way to bring us closer.My legs hung around his waist, and the wall gave me support.Our tongues tangled and I was seized by a mad desire that took every ounce of my sanity. He let go, and put his lips next to my ear and whispered. "Melanie. Strider!" the voice was so loud in my ears, a roar that was almost a cry, "you won't leave me, don't you love me? Prove it! Prove it! Damn it, Mel! Get back here!" His lips hit me again. what.She moaned faintly in my head. I didn't have time to meet her, and I was all on fire. The flames spread to her too, to the little corner where she hid, where she lay languid and nearly dying. My hands grip Jared's T-shirt tightly and pull it up.It was their idea, I didn't tell them what to do, his hand was burning on my back. Jared?she whispered.She managed to calm herself down, but our shared sanity was so confused at the moment. I feel the muscles in his belly in the palm of my hand and my hand is gripped tightly. what happened?Where Melanie struggled. I struggled to catch my breath from his lips, which sent fire to my throat.I buried my head in his hair and smelled his hair. Jared!Jared!No! I let her take control of my arm, which I know is what I want, even though it's beyond me now.The hands on his belly became fierce and angry, fingers grasping his skin, pushing him away with all their might. "No!" she yelled through my lips. Jared grabbed her hand, then held me up against the wall before I fell.I felt limp, my body bewildered by these conflicting commands. "Mel? Mel?" "What are u doing?" He roared with relief: "I know you can do it! Ah, Mel!" He kissed her again, on the lips she controlled now, and we both could taste the tears running down his cheeks. She bites him. Jared jumped off us and I slid to the floor, sitting haggard. He laughed: "That's my girl, she's still with you, Xiao Man!" "Yes." I gasped. What's going on, Xiaoman?She screamed at me. where have you been?You know I've been trying to find you? Yes.I can see that you are in great pain. Oh, I'm going to suffer.I promise her.I could already feel the pain coming, as before and she reviewed my experience extremely quickly.Jamie? That's what I've been trying to tell you, he needs you. So why don't we stay with him? Because he might be too young for this kind of sight. She searched for other information.Wow, and Ian, I'm glad I missed that part. I'm so worried I don't know what to do Well come on let's go. "Mel?" Jared asked. "She's here, she's angry, and she wants to see Jamie." Jared put his arms around me and helped me to stand up. "Mel, go crazy if you want to, just wander around like this." How long have I been gone? A total of three days. Her voice suddenly softened.where did i go do not you know? I can't think of anything. We all shuddered. "Are you okay?" Jared asked. "still alright." "Is she the one who was talking to me just now—speaking loudly?" "yes." "Can you let her do it again now woo?" I sigh.I am exhausted. "I can try." I close my eyes. Can you get around me?I asked her, can you talk to him? how do i do itWhere? I try to stretch myself in my head. "Come on," I whispered, "here." Melanie struggled, but she couldn't get out. Jared's lips pressed hard against mine, and my eyes widened in horror.His golden eyes widened too, half an inch away from mine. She jerked our heads back: "Stop! Don't touch her!" He smiled, and the fine lines at the corners of his eyes stretched out like feathers: "Hey, baby." That's nothing funny. I breathed hard: "She doesn't think it's funny." He put his arm around me, around us.We walked out, into the tunnel junction, and there was no one there, Ian wasn't there. "I'm warning you, Mel," said Jared, still smiling broadly and jokingly, "you'd better stay here. I can't promise what I would or would not do to get you back. " My stomach quivered. Tell him if he touches you like that again I will strangle him.But her threat was also a joke. "She's threatening your life right now," I told him, "but I think she's joking." He laughed, dizzy with joy: "You are always so serious, Xiaoman." "Your joke isn't funny," I muttered.Not to me. Jared laughed again. Ah, said Melanie, you are not well. I tried my best not to let Jamie see it. Thank you for bringing me back. I'm not going to kill you, Melanie, and I'm sorry I can't give you more. Thank you. "What is she saying?" "We just made up." "Why couldn't she speak when you asked her to speak just now?" "I don't know, Jared, there's just not enough room for the two of us. I can't seem to get myself out completely, like holding my breath, like stopping my heart. I can't let myself disappear, I Don't know what to do." He didn't answer, and my chest throbbed in pain.How happy he would be if I could find a way to destroy myself! Melanie wanted to contradict me, but to make me feel better; she struggled to think of words to ease my pain, but she couldn't think of the right words. But Ian would be devastated.And Jamie, Jeb will miss you.You have so many friends here. thanks. I'm glad we're back in the room again, I gotta think about other things before crying.Now is not the time to feel sorry for myself, there are more important things ahead than my broken heart again.