Rather than bother with an explanation, you throw yourself at Grace, wrapping your arms around her waist and bringing her down to the ground underneath.
She tries to scramble away, but most of your body weight is pinning her down.
"Listen," you shout, dodging a fist as it lashes out at you. "I'm not trying to hurt you! I'm here to help!"
"You can't help me!" Grace is fighting to get free of you, sending a hard knee into your stomach. "Nothing can help me!"
"We're here to stop it!" you shout, almost screaming the words into her face. The words, or perhaps merely the volume, seem to get through to her. She stops struggling, suddenly going still.
You climb off her, offering her hand. "I promise," you say, "we can keep you safe. We can protect you. But we need to know what's happening."
Grace stares up at you from where she lies on the ground. Then, finally, she takes your hand. "Fine," she says. "I tell you what I know, and you get me out of here."
You nod. "Agreed."
There's a long pause. Clearly, whatever Grace has to say is going to take some working towards.
"Its name is Renzfal."
You gaze at her. "Renzfal," you repeat. As your mouth forms the word, it's as though it's suddenly full of burning air; you gasp, reaching for your mouth, but the sensation is gone the moment that the word is said.
Grace nods, her face the picture of misery. In the distance, you can hear the sound of someone stumbling through foliage. You wonder if your classmates are trying to find you.
"And is it…" You stop, trying to think of a diplomatic way to say "controlling you." There probably isn't one.
"I…I can feel it inside my head," Grace says. Her voice is dull and hopeless. "If I don't do what it says, it…it makes me hurt." She looks at you through red-rimmed eyes. The fight's gone out of her completely. "You can't imagine what it's been like."
You nod. She's probably right about that. "What did it make you do, Grace? I know it wasn't your fault."
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