I skidded to a halt in front of the closet to find Jasper leaning against the wall, doubled over with his hands on his knees. In the dark, I couldn’t make out his face, but his ragged breathing that echoed from the walls was all I needed to know.

“Noelle, help me get him out of here,” I said, stepping into the closet to wrap an arm around his middle. Noelle did the same, slinging his other arm over her shoulders.

Together, we managed to hoist him out of the closet. I could hear his choked breaths in my ear, his body shaky and limp as we struggled to hold him up.

“Out of the way, everyone!” I yelled, tightening my grip on him.

People hastily retreated, making room for us to get Jasper to the door. As they stared after us with wide eyes, I felt very much visible for the first time since I had come here, but with Jasper trembling in my arms, I didn’t have time to worry about what that meant.

At the other end of the room, I almost collided with Amelia, who must have returned a few minutes ago, but she quickly jumped out of the way and held the door open for us.

Noelle and I were both breathing heavily as we guided him towards the stairs.

“Easy,” I muttered. “Here, sit down.”

Jasper slumped rather than sat, no trace of the grace with which he usually moved. I crouched down in front of him, but he didn’t look up at me. “You’re outside, Jasper,” I said, trying to make my voice as gentle as possible. For a split second, I wished that Evelyn was here to calm him down, but pushed on regardless. “You can breathe. There’s enough space now.”

“No, I can’t—I can’t breathe.” A desperate hand came up to claw at his col ar as if that would help.

“Noelle, get a paper bag,” I said, not taking my eyes off him.

She immediately spun and ran back inside.

“It’s going to be okay,” I said, even though the sound of his breathing made my hairs stand on end. Jasper was still scratching at his neck, leaving behind angry red lines; I tried not to think too much about it when I caught his hand in mine and brought it down to rest on his knees instead, the pulse in his wrist a hummingbird beneath my fingertips. Usually, Jasper seemed so perfect it was hard to believe he was just a regular boy my age; this was the most alive I had ever witnessed him, and it was exhilarating and terrifying at the same time.

I let go of his hand as quickly as if I had touched a hot stove top when the door burst open again and Noelle appeared with a brown paper bag in her hand. “This is the best I could find.”

I wordlessly took it from her. Under her intent gaze, I pinched the top of the bag together and sat down on the step next to Jasper. Pressing the bag over his nose and mouth, I asked, “I want you to take twelve deep breaths with me, all right? Can you do that for me?”