"Th-they make me do bad things," he said, not meaning it as in the things he did when he blacked out, just like... "In... in reaction tuh-to people talk-talk-talking ab-about them..." Jake added, clenching the stone in a tight fist. "Abby... sh-she tried to tuh-tuhh-take them... steal them..."

Chill out, Jake. Just chill.

"I attacked her."

Jake said this in such a matter-of-fact way, he frightened himself. He wasn't even crying too badly.

"I g-got in so much... ttttrouble for that... But I didn't... I d-don't regret it," he went on, looking up again at Kazimeriz with sorrowful eyes. "I'm sc-..."

No. Not scared. Not weak.

"Don't tell my mother," Jake whispered, looking down at the letter and referring to his foster mother. The last thing he wanted was her thinking he was insane, or dangerous... and him having to go to the hospital.