-7-

[Apparitions]

SEBASTIAN

His concerned voice resonated in my ears as the words left his lips. Rory’s tall and muscular frame stood a few good inches over me. Black, medium-length hair framed his chiseled cheekbones and tan features. He guided me to the couch, pushing me down onto it. He then dashed over to the pitcher of water on the desk and poured me a glass, handing it to me.

“Sebastian, what happened? I came in here to find you screaming. I’ve not seen you this distraught since...” he trailed off; his crestfallen face parallel to the carpeted wooden flooring.

Sip by sip, I emptied the glass and placed it on the center table. My speech faltered, uncertain of what to say first. Everything was a jumbled mess, and my tongue felt heavy. I buried my face in my hands and expelled an exasperated sigh.

“How do I begin?” I grumbled as I leaned back on the couch, my back thudding on the velvety sofa. “Rory, what happened that night? I know we had gone over it a thousand times, but it s