black　and　became　a　quiet；

even　whoosh　that　sounded　like　it　was　ing　from　the　inside　of　my　ears

〃Bella？〃　Jacob　asked；　his　voice　still　tense；　but　not　as　wild　as　before。

〃Bells；　honey；　can　you　hear　me？〃

The　contents　of　my　head　swished　and　rolled　sickeningly；　like　they'd　joined　the

rough　water

〃How　long　has　she　been　unconscious？〃　someone　else　asked。

The　voice　that　was　not　Jacob's　shocked　me；　jarred　me　into　a　more　focused

awareness。

I　realized　that　I　was　still。　There　was　no　tug　of　the　current　on　me—the

heaving　was　inside　my　head。　The

surface　under　me　was　flat　and　motionless。　It　felt　grainy　against　my　bare　arms。

〃I　don't　know；〃　Jacob　reported；　still　frantic。　His　voice　was　very　close。　Hands

—so　warm　they　had　to　be

his—brushed　wet　hair　from　my　cheeks。　〃A　few　minutes？　It　didn't　take　long　to

tow　her　to　the　beach。〃

The　quiet　whooshing　inside　my　ears　was　not　the　waves—it　was　the　air　moving　in

and　out　of　my　lungs

again。　Each　breath　burned—the　passageways　were　as　raw　as　if　I'd　scrubbed　them

out　with　steel　wool。

But　I　was　breathing。

And　I　was　freezing。　A　thousand　sharp；　icy　beads　were　striking　my　face　and

arms；　making　the　cold　worse。

〃She's　breathing。　She'll　e　around。　We　should　get　her　out　of　the　cold；

though。　I　don't　like　the　color

she's　turning〃　I　recognized　Sam's　voice　this　time。

〃You　think　it's　okay　to　move　her？〃

〃She　didn't　hurt　her　back　or　anything　when　she　fell？〃

〃I　don't　know。〃

They　hesitated。

I　tried　to　open　my　eyes。　It　took　me　a　minute；　but　then　I　could　see　the　dark；

purple　clouds；　flinging　the

freezing　rain　down　at　me。　〃Jake？〃　I　croaked。

Jacob'