The year is 1879. When thirteen-year-old Ruth Merritt Holbrook emerges from her family's burning estate, bloody and charred, but entirely numb--She makes headlines. Reporters believe she is deranged. They accuse her of having set the fire. All the h...
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Dear Donovan,
She has awoken in her sleep with nightmares in nights past. I have taken to sleeping in her room; prepared to rouser her should she be bombarded with too much. She has described them to me and I believe the affirmation has begun. With every vision, she seems more like her old self and this alone gives me hope.
I have spoken to Gabriel and he has yet to act. This pains me, for he is the only one who can help her and he is resistant. He still wants to save her from herself but we are past that now. She has already chosen this and keeping her purpose from her any longer is prolonging her vulnerability. I have spoken to Lizzie and she agrees that it is time.
Gabe insists that it is not time, that he has not been given his orders. But she will surely be lost if we do not act soon. She has spent every other day with our foe. Since her time him, she has grown increasingly distant. I fear he may have turned her heart from us. Or is, perhaps, in the process of doing such a thing. This is why I believe Gabe must act now. He must relay his message with haste before she is entirely lost to us. Although he cannot sense us the way that we sense him, he knows how to read the signs. I am uncertain if he suspects her as one of us, or if he is interested in her because of her abnormalities—regardless, the danger that surrounds her grows darker with each passing day. I am fearful.
I urge you to write to Gabe and speak to him on our behalf. Tell him he must act now. He must tell her the truth, as only he can, before it is too late. We never imagined it possible that she could be swayed from us, but what if she can. What if, instead of completing her mission, she chooses to stay here? I refuse to allow her to succumb to such a fate. She is my friend and although I disagree with her choices, I have made oaths to stand by her until it is finished. I shall not lose her to them. I shall fight tooth and nail to break her free from their grasp, even if it means losing my friendship with her altogether. I would, in my heart of hearts, rather her not succeed and be safe than end up in the hands of our enemy. I believe you feel the same.
You know, as well as I do, that we have only just begun this fight. He will not come easily, neither will he be pleased to hear that our master has allowed her to infringe on such treacherous ground.
Wishing you well and missing you greatly,
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