“I believe you.” Her voice was tired. Any sign of the Kim we once knew was as nonexistent as our former life. She took the book and held it to her chest, and then pulled a cell phone from her pocket. As she walked to the steps of the plane, I heard her sigh.

“Dad. I have it. We depart in ten minutes.” She clicked the phone shut.

I wiped my moist brow.

“What’s your deal?” Bex said, tapping my shoulder. “You sick? You look sick.”

“I don’t feel well.”

His eyebrows turned in, deepening the same line that gave away Jared. Bex sat in Jared’s seat, and patted my hand. “You have Kim, the human demon repellant, three hybrids, and a cop/ex-special forces guy on this plane. Not to mention you’re kind of a badass yourself these days.”

“Bex,” I warned.

“Sorry. Don’t tell Mom.”

Kim boarded the plane. Her clothes were stained and wrinkled, hanging from her gaunt body. The dark circles under her once-soft brown eyes appeared like purple bruises on her ashen skin. She only carried the book in her hand, and the phone in her pocket. No luggage, no carry-on. She had one mission, and one mission only. Nothing else mattered.

Her eyes met mine, and she froze. Ryan passed my seat, and approached her. They traded glances, but no words were spoken. Ryan kissed her bony cheek, and she let her body weight lean against him. He supported her weight for a moment, and then squeezed her tight before letting go. She used the seats to support her weight as she approached me.

“Hi,” she rasped.

My eyes filled with tears. Nothing I would say would be adequate. I didn’t deserve to talk to her.

Bex stood, and then helped Kim into the seat he occupied. She turned to face me, and her chin lowered. “I don’t blame you.”

I pressed my lips together in a hard line. An apology seemed insulting; I could barely look her in the eye.

“I don’t. I just wanted you to know that, you know...in case we crash and burn in a few minutes.”

I stared at her in disbelief, and then the corners of her mouth turned up, and she winked and left.

Settling back into my seat, I took a deep, not-so-relaxing breath. The small crowd loading the plane had dissipated, and Jared made one last sweep of the plane before boarding.

“This is it,” Jared said to us all. “From the moment we depart until we land, it’s out of our hands.”

I reached out to him, and he grabbed my hand, sitting in the seat beside me. He kissed my fingers, and closed his eyes. I waited for several moments, but he stayed still and silent. I turned to see Bex and Claire, eyes closed. Bex’s lips moved in prayer.