9

Elizabeth's whole body tightened in response to Merit's rising. She was unsure of her ability to cope with the situation at hand. But the girl with the dark hair was one of the few people in the church who wasn't sobbing, despite the fact that her face had a solemn and sorrowful expression that reminded Elizabeth of Honoria Fell as she stared on her tomb. Elizabeth was one of the few people in the church who wasn't crying.

She spoke softly and with the self-control that was characteristic of her during the conversation as she said, "When I think of Elizabeth, I think about the happy moments we had together." I never told Elizabeth that she had the ability to make even the most tedious job exciting, and now I wish I had. I wish that I could speak to her one more time just so she would know. "Elizabeth always had ideas, and she could make even the most tedious work entertaining.
And if Elizabeth could hear me now"-Merit glanced around the cathedral and drew a deep breath, presumably to calm herself-"if she could hear me now, I would tell her how much those wonderful times meant to me, and how much I want we could have them again, like the Thursday nights we used to spend together in her room, preparing for the debate team. I wish we could do it just once more like we used to." Merit shook her head. "But I'm afraid that we can't, and that makes me sad."

What exactly are you referring to? Elizabeth reflected on the situation as her anguish was briefly broken by her confusion. Wednesday evenings were traditionally reserved for practice for the school's debate team.
Thursdays. In addition, it was not in my bedroom; rather, it was in yours. And there was absolutely no joy to be had; in point of fact, we finally gave up since we both despised doing it...

Elizabeth felt her pulse begin to race as she watched Merit's beautifully controlled face, which seemed so serene on the surface in order to mask the strain that was building on the inside.

It was clear that Elizabeth was the only one who could be expected to comprehend the message that Merit was conveying. Therefore, Merit anticipated that Elizabeth would be able to listen in on the conversation.

Merit was aware.

Had Katherine informed her about it? As Elizabeth looked down at the rows of mourners below, she became aware, for the first time, that Katherine was not there among them. Matt was not either of them. It did not seem plausible that Katherine would have informed Merit, nor did it appear likely that Merit would have chosen this method of communicating with Katherine if he had known about it. Then Elizabeth recalled how Merit had looked at her on the night that they had saved Katherine from the well, when Elizabeth had begged to be left alone with Katherine after they had rescued Katherine from the well. Merit had given Elizabeth a very strange look.

She could not forget those penetrating black eyes examining her face on several occasions during the
Merit's behavior over the last few months, namely how she had become more reticent and reflective in response to Elizabeth's increasingly peculiar requests.

Then, Merit had guessed correctly. Elizabeth questioned her ability to piece together a significant portion of the reality.

Denis was finally making his way up, sobbing uncontrollably. That came as a surprise to me; if Merit was aware of it, then why hadn't she informed Denis? On the other hand, it's possible that all Merit knew was a hunch, and she didn't want to let Denis in on it in case it turned out to be unfounded.

Denis wiped away the tears that were flowing down her face and said, "Thank you." Either to restore her composure or to find some source of motivation, she cocked her head to the side and gazed up at the ceiling. While doing so, Elizabeth saw something that nobody else could see. She noticed that Denis's face began to lose its color and its expression, not in the way that a person who was about to pass out would, but in a manner that was all too familiar.

Elizabeth felt a shudder creep up her spine as she listened to the news. Not here. Oh, God, of all the times and places, please let it not be now.

However, it had already begun to take place. The angle of Denis's chin had changed, and she was once again staring out at the assembly. Except that she did not seem to notice them at all this time, and the voice that appeared to be coming from Denis's throat was not Denis's voice at all.

Remember that no one is who they seem to be. No one is who they appear to be." After saying that, she did nothing except stand there still, looking straight ahead with her eyes closed.
People started moving about awkwardly and looking at one another. Concern could be heard in the background. Denis wavered slightly as he said those words. "Remember that...remember...no one is what they appear..."
Suddenly, Reverend Bethea went to her side, and another guy hurriedly emerged from the building.
contrary viewpoint The second guy was bald and his head was now glistening with perspiration; he went by the name Mr. Elizabeth soon became aware of Newcastle. And there he was, at the very rear of the church, briskly making his way up the nave: Alaric Saltzman. Elizabeth heard a footfall behind her on the stairwell just as he arrived at Denis exactly at the moment when she passed out.


Elizabeth frantically tried to spin around to see while also pressing herself further into the darkness while thinking furiously about Dr. Feinberg. But as she looked up, the little face of the doctor with the hawk nose was not what greeted her gaze. It was a face with features as fine as those on a Roman coin or medallion, and it had emerald eyes that gave off a haunting appearance. Time stopped moving for one instant, and suddenly he was holding Elizabeth in his arms.

"Oh, Katherine, Katherine...," she said.

She felt his body become motionless as the shock began to take effect. He was holding her in a manner that was both mechanical and light, as if she were an unknown person who had confused him with someone else.

"Katherine," she screamed in desperation while burying her face in his shoulder in an attempt to elicit a reaction of any kind. She would perish if he despised her now; she couldn't stand the thought of his turning his back on her.

She let out a low groan as she pressed herself against him, her goal being to eventually become one with him and to be swallowed up by him entirely. Oh, please, she pleaded in her head, oh please, oh please, oh please
...

He continued to speak to her, assuring her that everything would be well and assuring her that he had her in his care while simultaneously caressing her hair. "Elizabeth. Elizabeth, it's all right; I've got you." And she was able to sense the shift as his arms began to squeeze her more tightly. He was aware of who he was holding at this point. This is the first time that...
She had a secure feeling ever since she'd woken up on that particular day. Nevertheless, it took her a considerable amount of time before she was able to release even a fraction of her hold on him. Instead of sobbing, she was breathing rapidly out of fear.

At long last, she had the impression that the world was beginning to fall into place around her. However, she did not release her grip just yet. She did nothing except stand there for what seemed like an eternity with her head resting on his shoulder, soaking in the reassurance that came from his proximity.

After that, she lifted her chin to gaze directly into his eyes.

Earlier in the day, while she was thinking about Katherine, she was considering the ways in which he might be of assistance to her. She had every intention of pleading with him, asking him to rescue her from this nightmare and restore her to the person she had been before it happened. But at this moment, when she stared at him, she was overcome with a peculiar feeling of hopelessness and resignation.

She spoke her question in a whisper, "Is there really nothing that can be done about it?" He didn't pretend to misunderstand. "No," he said in an equally hushed voice.
Elizabeth got the impression that she had made the last step over some kind of invisible boundary, after which there was no going back. When she was able to talk again, she apologized for the way she had treated you while they were in the woods. She said, "I'm sorry for the way I behaved toward you in the woods. I don't know why I did those things. I remember doing them, but I can't remember why."

His voice wavered as he said, "You're sorry?" He was unable to complete his sentence as Elizabeth and he held to one other for support. "Elizabeth, after all I've done to you, everything that's occurred to you because of me..."

A voice could be heard coming from the stairwell saying, "Very touching." "Would you want me to mimic a certain



"How did you get here?



", Katherine remarked.

"I'm going to guess that you did it the same way. Dominic was genuinely upset, and Elizabeth could tell; he wasn't simply displeased or discomfited; rather, he was in a white blaze of wrath and hostility. "Attracted by the flaming beacon of the fair Elizabeth's misery." Elizabeth could see that Dominic was extremely angry.

He had brought her to a secure place and kept her safe, and he had not kissed her when she was in that horrifyingly vulnerable condition. He had been... nice to her while she was confused and foolish.

Dominic said, "By the way, there seems to be some activity going on down there."