~Cassius~ I don't want anyone to witness my weakness. But it's hard. Because I have no control over my legs and arms, my thoughts and the chilling feeling that's making my stomach sick. Something warm touches my face. I'm pressed against something hard and warm. Hands. They are on my face. They are on my shoulders. Unlike mine, they aren't bloody or dirty. Or wait... there's a tattoo that I recognize. I look up and see my mother looking at me. Slowly, her face morphs into the man I last saw this morning. Alessio is cupping my cheeks, shaking me. But I'm not listening. I can't hear what he's saying. I'm too caught up with the voices in my head. "Cass, look at me. Breathe. Breathe. One, two, inhale, exhale, three, four, inhale, exhale," rough calloused fingers stroke my nape. I suck air into my lungs, it scraping against them as if they are made of glass. Alessio does that trick and it works. Lik
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