Thea alternates between walking, hopping, and running, seemingly having an unlimited supply of energy. She's perpetually excited as she looks around at the scenery, calling my attention to this or that, or dragging Cer along to show him an insect or a plant. If I'm honest, the scenery is breathtaking—and breath-taking. If I didn't feel as though I'm dying, maybe I could enjoy it more.

We're nestled between the mountains as we follow a winding path to the top. I can see our destination on the horizon, but the distance is deceiving, as I'm learning every ten minutes or so when I check our progress. There are hundreds of other people around, maybe thousands. All taking pictures and stopping to admire the natural beauty around. They're not pressed for time as they go at a relaxed pace, valuing the experience itself more than the end goal of reaching the peak.

A sad smile tugs at my lips as I look to my right, at the green expanse of forest shadowed by the gray tips of the mountains. If only Nikki were here... We would take our time on the climb, walking hand in hand, joking, and playing around as we wondered at the beauty of nature. It would be one of our bucket list destinations, and we would revel in the feel of being outside, free and without any worry. He would no longer be weighed down by his anxiety, and there would be no more danger to our lives. We'd simply...be.

Did we ever even have that luxury? Ironic that we had so much money we couldn't have spent it in ten lifetimes, and yet, we never had the most important thing—peace of mind.

I suddenly stop, turning toward the edge of the road as I stare at the sprawling cliffs. Closing my eyes, I take a deep breath as I become one with the sounds of nature—tuning in to the very essence of life.

Are you here, Nikki? Are you with me?

Thea explained that young spirits are weak, and I wonder if that's the case with Nikki. Did he deplete his strength when he appeared in front of me at the theatre? Because the only other alternative would be that he got taken by the Collectors, and regardless of how insignificant that may be in the grand scheme of things, I would hate for it to be true. I need him by my side, always with me.

I just...need him.

A tear falls down my cheek, a cold breeze brushing against my skin and making me shiver. My eyes instantly snap open, my gaze greedily roaming around as I look for him. The breeze...that's his signature. Is he really here?

I run in circles, chasing the wind, all in hopes that he might give me another sign—that he might show himself before me.

Yet it's all in vain.

Maybe he's too weak.

Maybe.