Fight With Me

Chapter 42

⸻

Hope's POV

Hope knew something was wrong before the pain hit.

It always started like that. A pressure behind her eyes. A pull low in her chest. Like her body was bracing for impact before it even understood why.

She found Josie sitting on the edge of the bed, hands fisted in the sheets, breathing like she was trying not to panic. The sight of her made the ache in Hope's ribs ease for half a second and then spike twice as hard.

"Okay," Hope said softly. "Okay. I'm here."

Josie looked up, eyes glassy, unfocused. "Don't move."

"I'm not going anywhere."

"No," Josie said, sharper now. "I mean... don't move away. Please."

Hope crossed the room in two steps and knelt in front of her. The relief was immediate and terrifying. Like her nervous system finally exhaled.

Josie's hands came up, gripping Hope's shoulders too tightly. She looked ashamed of it and still didn't let go.

"I tried," Josie said. "When you were downstairs. I tried to stay calm. I told myself it would pass."

Hope swallowed. "And?"

"And then I couldn't feel where you were anymore."

The bond surged, hard enough to make Hope gasp. Her vision blurred. For a split second she thought she saw blood on Josie's hands. When she blinked it was gone, replaced by pale fingers digging into her jacket.

Hope pressed her forehead to Josie's. "Hey. Hey. That's not real. Look at me."

Josie did, but her eyes didn't quite track. "Are you bleeding?"

"No."

"I heard you scream."

"I didn't."

Josie shook her head, breath hitching. "I did. I think I did."

The pain hit both of them at once. A sharp twist in Hope's gut. Nausea rising fast. Josie folded forward, dry heaving, and Hope barely had time to wrap her arms around her before they were both shaking.

"This is getting worse," Hope whispered.

Josie nodded against her shoulder. "I know."

And for the first time since it started, neither of them tried to pretend they could handle it alone.

⸻

Josie's POV

Josie hated how much she needed Hope.

Hated how her body reacted when Hope pulled even an inch away. Hated the fear that came with it, because fear turned into anger too fast and anger made her think things she didn't want to think.

When the pain spiked again, it came with images this time. Flickers. Hope on the floor. Hope not breathing. Hope standing across the room looking at her like she didn't recognize her.

Josie grabbed Hope's shirt. "Stay."

"I am staying," Hope said immediately.

Josie's voice cracked. "Promise."

"I promise."

That helped. A little. Enough that Josie could breathe through the nausea instead of fighting it. Enough that the images faded into static.

"This isn't normal," Josie said. "I know you're supernatural and everything is always a mess, but this... this feels wrong."

Hope didn't argue. She looked scared too, which somehow made it better and worse at the same time.