"Can you remember his name?” I ask, praying she stays lucid long enough to give us some answers,


    "Grey, his name was Grey, he said he would collect you on your 18th birthday. So I ran to a ce I never thought he''d find us. Keep running Josie, run so he doesn''t find you, hising for your soul," her hands begin to tremble and her eyes dart around wildly as she spirals back into Insanity.


    "It''s okay mum, we are safe here. He can''t find us," I try to calm her.


    "Mrs Banks, it''s a pleasure to meet you, I''m Luke. I want to assure you that I will protect your daughter with my life," Luke says and her eyes snap back into focus to asses him.


    "Is this your boyfriend, Josie Bean?" she asks.


    "Yes, Mum, he''s one of them," I give Luke a grateful smile. "I brought them to meet you before you go home," "Oh gosh. How many do you have?" she asks me, her eyes wide and amused, “tell me all about them. What are they like? Do they treat you well?"


    "You''re really putting me on the spot here," Iugh. "Let me think," I look at my four bonds and try to think of their best qualities and how they make me feel. How can I sum up everything I want to tell her about them in such a short amount of time? “Luke is the brains, he has a sharp and inquisitive mind, and he''s a real gentleman. The chivalry is strong with this one. I hope I can be as attentive to his needs as he is to mine,"


    Luke grins proudly and my mum nods her approval.


    Then Theo steps forward, a warm smile on his face. "I''m Theo and I think your daughter is amazing, there''s nothing I wouldn''t do for her,"


    "Theo is the most loyal ally I could dream of, he''s kind, caring and hrious. He brightens even the darkest of days, it''s impossible not to smile around him. I hope to light up his world as much as he lights up mine," I tell her.


    "Baby girl, please don''t make me cry,in front of your mum, Theoughs, his eyes full of emotion as I guide my mum towards Axel.


    "Mum, this is Axel. He is sweet and shy, but he''s also the most fierce protector when I need him and always puts my safety and well-being above his own. He is my safe space, he makes me feel valued and heard. I want to be his safe space too and give him the peace he gives to me," I smile at Axel and he gives me the perfect example of his shy smile.


    "It''s nice to meet you, Mrs Banks, I will always do my best to keep Josie safe," he nods with a slight blush on his cheeks.


    I look to Mason next, he avoids my eyes and looks as if he''d rather be anywhere but here awaiting my introduction


    of him.


    "And this is Mason. Mason supports me through actions rather than words. He constantly tests my limits, pushing me to meet my full potential, and when things seem dire, Mason never fails toe through and pull me out of the worst of situations. I intend to do the same for him," I tell her and Mason audibly gulps before he gives us a small nod.


    "They sound lovely, and they''re all very handsome," she says softly before raising her voice into a bitter hiss, but they''re all filthy demons, they can''t have you!"


    "Mum, they aren''t. Don''t call them that," I defend. She grips my shoulders and stares at me intently with insanity


    12


    dancing dangerously behind her eyes.


    "Do you love them?" she demands and my tears return as she shakes me, "Do you love these disgusting creatures?" she bellows.


    "Yes," I cry and the sharp sting of a pshes my face. I stagger back and warm protective arms wrap around me. I breathe in Axel''s scent as my mum screams awful things at us. She ispletely lost to her delusions, it''s no longer my mum in there. I peek out from Axel''s embrace and see Mason using telekinesis to hold my mum in ce. She rages and spits like a wild animal. I can''t watch her like this anymore. It''s cruel and selfish of me to let this go on any longer. I could wait it out and hope for her to have another moment of sanity, to get my mum back for a few minutes, but it is not worth the torment she is going through now. I search out Mr Collins with my eyes and give him the nod. He returns it with a solemn nod of understanding and I bury my face into Axel''s chest with a sob. He holds me tighter and Theo and Luke huddle in, giving me the onlyfort they can as I lose my


    mum.


    Banks, sleep, rest now and don''t wake until I tell you to," Mr Collins'' sombre tone fills the room before it falls into silence. A wave of grief overwhelms me and my knees give up on me as a scream of agonising heartbreak rips from me. Axel holds me up and my guys whisperforting words that I can''t process. I don''t care what they are saying, just hearing their soft tones and knowing they''re with me is everything. I''m not alone. "Josie, look at me," Mr Collins''s voice is harsher than the others and Ipose myself enough to look at him. His eyes soften the moment my eyes meet his, then I look at my mum, she looks so peaceful in Mason''s arms. Despite her words to him he still holds her gently, giving her the only respect he can. Doctor ck offers to take my mum from him and he declines. "Josie," Mr Collins says softly this time and I look back at him.


    "Are you going to take my pain away?" I ask. Maybe it''s for the best.