Chapter 218
Katelina drew away from Jorick and moved to Rachel's side. She knelt next to her. The cold snow melted through the knees of her jeans. She tentatively touched the redhead's shoulder. As if that simple action had opened the flood gates, Rachel's tears turned to deep, wracking sobs. Katelina froze, suddenly unsure, but Rachel turned to her. The hurt on her face made Katelina's heart break and she reached out to her.
Rachel fell into her arms. Her body shook from the power of her pain. Tears of sympathy leaked from Katelina's eyes and left hot trails down her cold face. Instinctively, she rocked Rachel and murmured all of the stupid useless words that people said to one another in times of trial; all the mumblings that meant nothing. She suddenly realized that though the words were meaningless, the fact that someone cared enough to say them was what mattered.
"He's dead," Rachel choked out. "Oh God, he's dead!"