“Come on, sweetheart,” Eli murmured, his voice barely a whisper beneath the storm’s roar outside. “Stay with us. You’re safe now.”

The girl shivered violently, her body a fragile thing teetering on the edge of awareness. Her eyes fluttered open briefly, the dullness in them slowly giving way to a flicker of recognition and fear.

“Max, stay close,” Eli commanded, as he threw more logs onto the fire. He needed to get her warm and stable, but beyond that, he needed answers. Where had she come from, and who was she apologizing to?

As the minutes ticked by, the girl’s color began to return, the blue tinge receding from her lips. Eli prepared some hot broth, coaxing her to sip it as he cradled her head gently. Each swallow seemed a monumental effort, but with every sip, she grew a little stronger, a little more present.