A tension slowly settled into Jackson's body. A quivering, uncomfortable tension that weakened his grip on Erica. His fingers tightened against her stomach, hand pressing flat as if to compensate. He was trying to fight it, trying to let go. But he couldn't, not with that whisper deep in his mind. Not with the collar around his throat, nestled beneath the crisp collar of his shirt.

"Don't run," he said, his voice his own and cracking with desperation. "It's worse if you run." Because if she tried to run, Matt would ensure her legs did just as her voice did. They would give out. Fail her completely. "Please. Erica. I--" He let out a gasp of pain. He couldn't move his arm, but those close were enough to make his hand release her shoulder.