Leo -

My heart pounded and my arms started to shake. I felt sick. Before I knew what was happening, I had collapsed to the floor. I started to shake, screaming, and crying. My whole body ached with a pain that I had never known before. I could feel every part of myself slowly dying. And then, as suddenly as it had started, it stopped. I gasped for air desperately, making sure I was still attached to my body. Lori pulled me up and hissed, "What was that?" I flinched away and shook my head. I couldn't speak. It was so... strange. Fred turned to me. Who was that? He asked angrily. I shrugged. "What do you mean, who was that?" 

You have bonded with a spirit, yes?

I stared at Fred blankly.

Oh dear, you really are hopeless. Ever talked to a tree?

"Oh! Like Syrup?"

Yes, yes. You have bonded with her now. And that pain was the pain of one of the spirits you have bonded with.

"I have only ever talked to Syrup. Why did it feel like I was- oh no. Please no. Fred, tell me I'm wrong. PLEASE!"

You felt the pain. You know what happened. It ended suddenly, instead of long and drawn out, like a fracture or broken bone. 

"No..." I choked up. It couldn't be true. "No no no no no..."

Alex put his hand on my shoulder. "I have absolutely no idea what's going on right now."

I looked up at him, tears filling my eyes. "Syrup is dead."