He can barely feel Howard lifting him, can see nothing but the boy's hazy shadow hovering above him, blotting out the sky.

His body twitches and jerks and seizes, his jaw tightening, teeth grinding so hard he can taste the bitter salt of his own blood when they crack.

He chokes on the water Howard offers, and it runs down his chin pink.

"Sss," he struggles to speak, the words hissing out of him. "Sstrong... be, bra-ve. I-I beeli..ve in you."