I hated myself for that. Of course, just because I was able to stop myself didn’t mean I was ready for what came next. Owen started to scream; horrible, blood-curdling, heartbreaking screams that cut through whatever thin defenses I had managed to guard myself with. Tears ran down Owen’s bruised and ruined face. Look at him. He had lied to me. He had lied to the people that I love. He had caused hurt and pain and God knows what else, but hadn’t he been through enough? What was Echo hoping to accomplish by being so rough with him? Echo pulled harder at his head. Owen jerked back; his body arched and rigid. I looked at Casper, hoping for some sort of direction, but only found a similar confusion. Looks like I wasn’t the only one who didn’t know how to feel. Owen’s screams sharpened into a shrill guttural thing, like someone was pulling out his insides, and I couldn’t take it anymore.
