There was no response.

“I don’t know what happened to you, Ethan. But I’m trapped here now, just like you are.”

I leaned closer, my voice dropping to a whisper.

“I wish you could wake up. I wish I had at least one ally in this terrible house.”

The monitors continued their steady, monotonous beep.

I sighed and turned my head, looking back toward the dark window.

The rain was coming down harder now, blurring the lights of the city across the river.

Then, I felt a sudden, distinct twitch against my palm.

I froze.

My heart leaped into my throat.

I slowly turned my head back to look at his hand.

His long fingers were still resting on the sheet, but they were no longer completely limp.

They were tightening around mine.

“Ethan?” I whispered.

The steady beep of the heart monitor suddenly spiked.

The rhythm grew faster, louder, filling the room with a frantic warning.

I gasped and tried to take a step back, but his grip was surprisingly firm.

The long, dark eyelashes on Ethan’s pale face began to flutter.